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My children are the best eaters, but there's one thing that they will eat plenty of--snacks!  I'm trying to be better about not buying pre-packaged, processed foods.  These two recipes, Apple Chips and Homemade Granola Bars, make great snacks that your kids will love and make for a great replacement to all of the Halloween candy that might be lurking around your house.

Apple Chips

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of nutmeg
Couple of large crisp apples

1.  Slice the apples vertically as thin as possible.  Use a mandoline if you have it for thin, even slices.  The thinner your slices, the crispier your chips.

2.  Arrange the slices on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.  After mixing the dry ingredients together, sprinkle over the apples.

3.  Bake at 200 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Then rotate the pan and bake for at least another hour.  Do not raise the heat to speed the process.  (I tried this and ended up with burnt apple chips.)

4.  Loosen the chips with a spatula, but leave on the baking sheet to cool.  They can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.  I'm not sure how long they last after a week because we never have any that long to find out!

(This recipe came from the '07 September/October issue of Wondertime.)

Homemade Granola Bars

3 cups lowfat granola cereal--I use the kind with almonds for an extra healthy boost.
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup dried fruit--Any kind of dried fruit will work.  I like to use dried cranberries and dried blueberries to make them more colorful.   
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1.  Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, being sure to mix well.  

2.  Coat an eight inch square baking pan with cooking spray. 

3.  Spread the mixture into the pan, even and flat.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes (I usually do 20 minutes for a crunchier bar.)  Let cool for five minutes before cutting into rectangles.

(This recipe came from Southern Living magazine several years ago.)

Minus the slicing of the apples, both of these recipes are something that your children can help you make.  No matter if they help or not, there's no doubt that they will enjoy these delicious snacks!