Road tripping ain’t what it used to be, friends.
Gone are our lazy days of puttering down the coast, of long lunches with spectacular views, of starting and stopping and pitching camp where and when we like.
We’re all business now. It’s I-5 all the way from Seattle to Northern California, aggressive packing of PB&J fixings so we don’t need long lunches, and hardly noticing the view because of the song and dance I’m doing in the back seat to entertain the girls.
That’s right, we packed the whole family into the minivan (which I like to call the “Man Van” now, both to distance myself from it and to convey to J how sexy it is for him to take the kids to swimming lessons). And we drove all afternoon and night, and much of the next day, and lived to tell the tale.
Here are some of the things that we did in the car to entertain three children aged 1, 3, and 5: made a list of things to do, read books, sang songs, colored, napped, watched a video, ate snacks, played peek-a-boo, and let the baby pull out an entire package of floss.
Here is something we did not do in the car: eat these chocolately granola treats. We meant to, we really did. Hannah said they were road food and I’m inclined to agree, but once I made them we had to taste one and then, wow, another, and they were so crispy and chocolately and then it was the next day and J was asking me to please take a photo of the things already so he could keep eating them and just like that…gone, as fast as the miles roll by when you’re having a good time out there on the road.
Crispy Chocolate-Granola Haystacks: You will need 2 c. of that sweet olive oil granola or another granola you love. (If it’s not super crunchy, put it in the oven at 300 for 10 minutes to crisp up.) Melt a 3.5 oz. bar of dark chocolate (in a double boiler or in the microwave) and add the 2 c. granola, stirring well to coat. Scoop spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and cool until set (I put mine in the freezer). Eat with clean hands because you will want to lick your fingers.
Emmy Cooks 
Those are gorgeous – what lovely little snacks :D Not heavy at all either.
I wondered when you mentioned making them if they would survive for the (Man Van!) voyage down I-5. They look amazingly good in your pics. I might have to check my freezer and see if I have any stragglers from my last batch :)
I’m out of granola…time to make some more so we can have these!!
Delish! Thanks for the tip about having clean hands ;-)
I really, really loved these. Thanks Emmy!
These look great! Brave you for foing in a road trip with little ones. I used to do that but can’t really remember much. Protective amnesia? :)
Oh Wow! My two sassy gals will love this recipe! Brilliant Emmy!! Enjoy your road trip. :)
Great idea, they remind me of no bake cookies my aunt used to make, before we heard of granola it was just oatmeal and coconut! There is more to the recipe but it is gone with her in time. Now I’ll use my granola recipe instead. Probably a lot healthier too! Thanks
These look really good and really easy. That’s a dangerous combination.
Awesome. Road trips with kids are both more and less wonderful…. often more wonderful once we’re there and they point out a bird or a tree that we blitzed on by…. frequently less wonderful in the car. Glad to hear that it wasn’t unbearable. I am very jealous of that drive. It is a lovely stretch.
Must confess: I hate roadtripping. But maybe if you plied me with enough delicious snacks I could get on board….
That photograph had me drooling! I love chocolate anything and to have it with some granola would definitely make me feel less guilty about eating it!
Those remind me of the coconut haystacks I was so fond of when I lived in Australia, but much healthier!
Who knew floss was so entertaining … great idea, actually :-)
These looks like such a nice treat! Going to have to give it a whirl. PS – I love the comment “Please take a photo of it so I can eat them.” Too funny. : )
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