Simply Amazing Granola Bars

     Every Fall I go through a nature mom stage, I feel the need to bake fresh bread, create amazing homemade soups, can peaches, bake fresh apple cake, and the list goes on and on.  Recently, I tried a recipe for homemade granola bars and they were AMAZING.  I found the recipe in, "Harrowsmith Country Life Baking Book".  Here's the recipe tweaked Shannon style:

Chewy Granola Bars

1 c. brown sugar

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup butter (melted)

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups oatmeal

1 TBSP. flax

1/2 Rice Krispies

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Home Ec for Christian

 Preheat oven to 350.  Mix brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup, butter and vanilla.  Stir in oatmeal, flax, Rice Krispies, coconut & chocolate chips.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cut into 18 granola bars.

   My family loves these delicious treats.  I usually cut granola bars and then place them in snack size sandwich bags, so my  kiddos can pop them into their lunchbox throughout the week.  If I leave them in the pan they are devoured in a day.  Hope you enjoy this delicious treat.

Head Chef

Blessings to you and yours!

I'm linking up with "The Stories of A2Z".

The Truth Comes Out

   

                              

     My lovely husband has taken to reading my blog, nevermind that I stopped posting about five months ago and have recently posted only twice.  Apparently, as with all great writers, you're not appreciated until you stop writing. Ha!  Anyhoo, Sandy feels that I have failed to follow-up on some of my old posts, and therefore I need to update with you mindless info you missed this summer.  So here you go:

1.  I once posted that I was handing over the finances to my husband.  Now this was a great idea, at least in theory.  I have to admit, he was never able to pry the checkbook out of my hot little hands.  Apparently, now that Sandy's read my blog, he wants to "discuss" taking over the finances.  Hummm....

2.   Last winter Sandy purchased a boat without telling me.  Now, this boat wasn't your typical run of the mill boat, it was a hurkin' huge, ugly boat.   Sandy being the studly fix-it  fella he is, whipped the boat into shape, purchased new seats, and restained all the wood work.  The boat then went from extremely ugly to large an awkward, but at least he was able to collect a tidy profit when he sold it.

3.  Tonight in a passive aggressive move, I started the dishwasher and the washing machine (using hot of course) while Sandy was in the shower-  I was hoping he'd get a "refreshing" splash.   Ha ha!

                                

4.  Last year I lost 30 pounds.  Woo hoo!  The problem is I gained 12 pounds back.  Now my question is, did I lose 18 pounds or gain 12?  Hummm.....

5.  Someday I would like to write a book.  Here are a few titles I'm considering:  "10 Reasons NOT to Call your Husband a Little Moron",  or "When Teasing Becomes Truthful".  Ha!

Disclaimer:  If you were offended by tonights post.....  You should know that:

I have the worlds most amazing husband. 

 He smokin' hot and kind. 

He doesn't mind if I tease him.

 Hope you enjoyed the random blither of tonight's post.

Blessings to you and yours!

    
   

Arch Enemies or Best Friends?

The littles...I think it's possible they are going to be the death of me....

Sure they're cute, even though they don't like to brush their hair.

But they fight every stinkin' day...   AHHHHH!!!!

On the upside, their arguments are often hilarious.

Here's a sampling of a typical night at the K's house:

After finishing dinner I realized Grace needed a pink tutu

for tomorrows "Twins Day" at school, and I didn't have one.

I hoped in the car and headed to Target, about 1.5 minutes

into the drive my cell phone rings. Here's the conversation that ensued:

Christian:  "Mom! Grace just chewed up lettuce and spit it in my face."

(Insert:  Shrieking.)

Grace:  "LET ME TALK TO MOM."

Christian:  "Fine!'

Me:  "What on earth is going on, and where is your dad?"

Grace:  "Christian opened the refrigerator, and took out the whip cream and was going to eat it!"

Me:  "Okay?"

Grace:  "I told him that  he is NOT allowed to eat the whipped cream."

Me: "Okay?"

Grace:  "He won't obey me, so I chewed up some lettuce and spit it at his face."

Me:  "Grace Elizabeth, you are not allowed to spit food at your brother."

Grace:  "HE DIDN'T OBEY ME!"

Me:  "Grace, you are not the mommy, and Christian doesn't have to obey you.  Besides,  we never spit in someones face to discipline them.  Mommy doesn't chew up her food and spit at you when you are naughty."

Grace:  "Well, maybe you should!"

Me:  "Go to your room."

Hummmm....new parenting technique?????

Blessings to you and yours!



Adventures on the Bluff

     I'm grateful for Fall, it's my favorite season.  I love everything about it- the smells, the leaves changing color, fall scented candles, pumpkins, yummy soups, cute boots, pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks...you get the idea.  Being the traditional sort of girl I am,  Fall wouldn't be complete if we didn't make our annual trip to Green Bluff  for the Apple Festival.   Green Bluff is a community of farms that offer U-pick fruits and vegetables, hayrides, corn mazes, and delicious food.  If you have never been to Green Bluff, you are missing out on:

The Corn Shooter

The Caterpillar Train

Fresh Pumpkin Donuts (Source)

Apple Picking & Sampling

 and Pumpkin Patches.

Now if you miss out on Green Bluff, you'll save about a $100.00.  But who's counting...

well okay, Sandy probably is, but I'm not.  :)



Gratitude List:

60.  Little faces covered in sticky Carmel Apple goo.

61.  Notes that read "I trooly love you, mom".

62.  Date night with my man.

63.  Sunny, warm October days.

64.  Ripe, red tomatoes straight from the vine.

65.  Snuggle time

66.  Brady Bunch reruns

67.  My dad, he's been gone almost 2 years, and today would have been his 54th birthday.

68.  My sweet 14 year old asking me to pray with her before bed.

69.  Goofy, irritable, lovable kids.

70.  Cousins spinning crazy circles while dancing to an old time band playing "Sweet Home Alabama".

71.  My Savior.