Clean Eating - Granola Bars

I am loving this clean eating thing!

Seriously...
Who needs processed foods anyway?!?!

Yesterday I was CRAVING granola bars.

I LOVE LOVE granola and granola bars.

When I was a kid, my dad would buy these amazing granola bars at Costco. They were covered in chocolate which made them more like a candy bar than a granola bar and made by some no-name company that probably isn't even around any more.
Does anyone else remember these? They were in a black or dark brown wrapper?

Anywhoo... 

yesterday for some unknown reason, I was thinking about those granola bars.

So I jumped online and started looking for Clean Granola Bar recipes.

I couldn't find anything that sounded really good.

So I decided to make my own. I took a little of several recipes I found online.

They didn't turn out too bad... quite tasty in fact.

Here are my:

Extra Nutty Coconut and Cran-Strawberry Granola Bars

Mix together in a large bowl:

1 cup Chopped Walnuts

1/2 cup Chopped Almonds

1/2 cup Peanuts

1 cup Coconut

1 cup Dried Cran-Strawberrys 

(I found these at Win-co in the bulk section, but regular dried cranberries will work too.)

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Then Boil (stirring occassionally) in a small saucepan:

1 cup Organic Brown Rice Syrup

1/4 cup Honey

1 teaspoon Vanilla

This stuff is fairly expensive. We only have one store in all of Spokane that carries it. It doesn't taste great on it's own, but once mixed with the honey and vanilla it is de-lish!

Once liquid has boiled, pour over dry ingredients.

Stir together until well mixed,

Pour into a 9x13 greased pan. (I used a light coating of coconut oil.)

Press firmly using waxed or parchment paper. It'll still be quite warm.

Let cool in fridge or freezer for a couple hours.

Cut into bars. You can choose the size. The bigger I cut them the more flimsy they became when room temperature. So I kept mine small.

They turned out really sticky, so storing them in the fridge would be a good idea.

 

With mine, because I was really wanting chocolate. I melted some dark chocolate chips and dipped the ends in it and let cool again. Then individually wrapped in wax paper for storage. 

YUM!
They turned out SO good!

Apple/Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffins

It is definitely fall here in the Pacific Northwest.

And for me, that means all things comfort.

Comfort food.

Comfort dessert.
Comfy Socks and sweats.

Comfy blankies on the couch with my loves and a good movie.

I LOVE Fall!

Fall also brings pumpkins.

I love all things pumpkin. 

We are planning a trip to our local orchard area, Greenbluff, on Friday to pick out the perfect pumpkin. I can't wait. So until then, I am tiding myself over with some pumpkin muffins.

Since we recently decided to go 'clean' with our eating here in this house, I went on the search for some yummy pumpkin recipes. 

I found a perfect recipe for Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffins over at The Gracious Pantry.

They are De-Licious!

Although, I used chunky applesauce (since that was all I had), mine turned out to be more of a Apple/Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffin than just a Pumpkin Spice Muffin. I also used just plain Whole Wheat Flour instead of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, so they were a little dense. But I like that!

At any rate.

They are good!

You should make some!

You can find the recipe HERE.

Next I'm going to try her recipe for a Clean Pumpkin Coffee Creamer!

Seriously?!?

Bring It!!

Potty Training Progress...

We are still working on Potty Training over here.

Let's just say, it's a work in progress.

She likes the idea of going on the potty like a big girl.

But she's been very forgetful and doesn't like us asking her anymore if/when she has to go.

If there's one thing I have learned, it's that 

My Kid Likes to be Naked!

(Please don't take offense at the naked bum shots!)

Lately, Zoie seems to enjoy sleeping in the nude.

So every day at nap time, as soon as I leave the room, 

she strips down to nothing and goes right to sleep.

The nude sleeping is fine.

I have no problem with it.

She sleeps hot like I do, more power to her.

We could be our own personal heating blankets.

It's ridiculous.

The problem lies with the fact that she can't hold her potty when she is sleeping.

She's been doing okay during the day.

But when she is sleeping, its not good at all.

So every afternoon (cause she doesn't do it at night),

I go in,

and cringe at the current mess.

(Thankfully she hasn't pooped yet! Good Lord, could you imagine!)

She must really like sleeping in fresh sheets every night.

Needless to say,

potty training is still a work in progress!

And we're definitely working!

This is totally posed cause a pic of her actually going potty is just gross!

My Crazy Week

My week has been crazy so far... and it's only Wednesday.

I feel like I am always telling you guys how crazy things are and how busy I am.

Wonder if life will ever slow down?

Prob not.

Zach's Grandma used to tell us that life will go faster and faster every year.

Boy was she right!

My current to do list is a full legal sheet long.

It's INSANE!

So I'm going to get back at it.

Tomorrow I am going to show you all about how I redid my room!

Here is a sneak. Excuse the poor quality phone pic.

The lighting is really bad... but you can kinda get an idea.

It's amazing and I am so excited that it is almost done.

Feels like sleeping in a hotel.

Except the mattress and pillows are better. Wink Wink

Have a happy hump day!