This week I've been baking and hanging out with the kids. As school wrapped up last week it has been great to hang out more as a family. Andrew comes home for lunch and we all eat together. He is also home at night and we are loving all the time! What to do with ourselves? It is nice and chilly here today but this is a change from the continual rain we've had.
We live in gumbo country where the mud sticks to you. I push the buggy (double stroller) and the wheels just get more and more mud. Last year Andrew and I put in drain tile and used shovels in this terrible mud. That was an intense work out. I had to push the mud off the shovel with my foot and then the mud just stuck to my shoes. I felt like I was weighted down. I found with shoes it is best to let it dry and then beat it. Anyway enough of my mud woes.
With Andrew coming home for lunch I've been trying to cook and bake more. If any of you know me well know that I don't really care for either. I can do them well when I do since my mom was a great teacher. She is an incredible cook/baker. I know how much don't really like to do it. I would much rather be sewing or making cards. But everyone has to eat so I push myself to do it. Most times our meals are very low key. I eat gluten free. A lot of what we eat is gluten free. Andrew and the girls still eat some gluten but not nearly as much as we used to. We eat rice pasta and I make a homemade sauce. In the last three years we've switched to all natural cleaning and personal care products. I make most everything we use. I've learned a lot along the way! I am happy with where we are with all that and am so much more comfortable knowing that it is gentle, fragrance free and no toxins. Now I am starting to tackle the food issue. We are moving away from processed foods and trying to eat real foods.
Most of you know that I hate getting up in the morning. I hate getting out of my nice warm soft bed. Ironically God gave me a very early morning rising daughter. She thinks the world is most alive at 6 AM. Really? Nuts! After 3.5 years I'm getting used to it. It has made me a better morning person and I get up and make a homemade breakfast nearly every morning. This is something I said I would never do. My kids love breakfast. Eggs are a great! We run out of eggs all the time and so we walk over in the morning to the school's cooler (in our PJs) to buy eggs.
Slowly we are moving toward foods with less sugar and more natural carbs. However I do still make some snacks. Andrew couldn't live without snacks. He eats more food than anyone I've ever met. This man can eat and eat and eat. I wish I had his metabolism! Out of his need/desire for snacks I found this recipe and he loves it! He says that it is more like a cookie. I will continue to take out the carbs as I continue to make it but for now here it is. I don't remember where I got it from.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup rice crispy cereal
1 cup crushed salted pretzels
1/4 cup ground or whole flax seed
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts - we used almonds
In a large bowl stir the above ingredients together.
1 cup peanut butter
Add the peanut butter to the dry ingredients. Break up the peanut butter with your spoon and continue to mix, mix and mix until you get it all mixed. Takes a while.
4 tbsp butter (melted) or coconut oil (melted)
2 tsp vanilla extract
Add melted butter and vanilla to the mixture and stir some more.
1/3 cup honey + 1tbsp honey
Add the honey and mix some more!
1 cup Chocolate chips
Add the chocolate and fold them in.
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan and pour in the granola mixture. Pat down. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Top will be golden brown- be careful not to over bake. Honey will burn quick. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Cut bars once the are cool. May crumble some- perfect for putting on ice cream or eating with milk. You may put them in the refrigerator to chill further before trying to cut.
Our pup loves water! So much so that she leaps in the tub with the girls at night. The girls think it is great and pour water all over her. Audi loves the attention. Audi likes to stick her entire face in the water and little bubbles come floating up from her nose. I always think she will take on a lot of water but she doesn't. I've never see a dog swim or play in the water like her. So many dogs like water but I think Audi could be part fish. She dives in the pond out back and at home I find her standing in her water dish-splashing water all over the floor. Good thing there are 2 ponds on the property. She swims until I call her out. She is a dog that could kill herself running or swimming. She doesn't quit. I wish I could bottle her energy!
I don't remember if I ever shared this but I found this chair in the dump out back. A great metal chair with peeling paint. It needed some help but I fixed that. It took me some time that was for sure but I'm really happy with how it turned out! I did put vinyl on the seat - which I don't love- but it keeps it clean from messy hands. I love the blue color I painted it. I found the vintage fabric at a thrift store. The pillow is also one of my creations from a while back. Very eclectic and very me!
No comments:
Post a Comment