Summer time officially means travel time. We definitely have travel plans this summer, not to mention just going to the pool with little ones feels like we are packing for vacation sometimes. I don't know about you, but hot summer weather is the last time I feel like eating crap food. Yes, I know...it tastes so good but a greasy double cheeseburger from Wendy's doesn't quite hit the spot when temperatures soar above 100 with 98% humidity. Fast food is certainly less appealing when you are car traveling. It may sound good when all you've heard is "are we there yet?" from the moment you leave Fort Benning (and yes, that happened to us last time we traveled to Orlando) and you just want everyone to stop talking, eat fast and get to the final destination but after fast food and eating out for an entire vacation, my belly and I are in a screaming match by the time we pull back into the driveway.
My sweet friend, Danielle, gave me this wonderful recipe for homemade granola bars. She shared them with me months ago and out of pure laziness I hadn't made them for myself until this afternoon. No joke- they took less than 10 minutes to make, not including baking time. But seriously, lunchtime for the kids takes longer than 10 minutes to put together- this was easy!! And this would be a good "mommy's little helper" kitchen project with your little one. They are so delicious and will definitely be a "must pack" for the car on our next trip.
2 c. quick-cooking oats
1 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. hulled pumpkin seeds (I prefer sunflower seeds)
1 c. dried cranberries
1 c. mixed nuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk.
Line a 13x9 inch pan with parchment lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Leave enough parchment on each end to pull out when baking is finished. Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all the ingredients and spread onto prepared pan, evenly pressing the corners.
Bake 20-25 minutes (20 for more chewy bars- 25 for more crunchy bars). Cool 5 minutes, remove from pan and cut into bars. Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Welcome to Summer!
First of all, can I just say that I can't believe it has been almost 3 months since my last post?!? Time flies!! We have been really busy with school, therapy appointments with Alaina, we went on a super amazing Disney family cruise to Nassau and Castaway Cay, swim lessons and soccer practice, Wednesday church and the list goes on and on. Summer is already in full swing here in the South and you know what that means- figuring out ways to entertain children, gorgeous sunshine, warm weather, pools and sprinklers, sidewalk chalk and bubbles. In a nutshell, lots of outdoor fun and very little time spent inside.
And, as a lot of my closest friends know, big changes are on the horizon for us. We aren't exactly sure what is happening yet and the specific details, but we will keep you updated when something gets a little more concrete. However, most people who know me know that when things gets crazy chaotic, I revert to the most basic things I know- lists, organization, simplicity. This summer is going to be about trying to gets things as easy as possible.
One perfect example is cooking. The sun and temperatures are not a joke, the kids have been playing outside all day and it is now 5:00pm. CRAP! What are we going to do for dinner?? I don't want to run everyone through the drive-through and I don't want to go in and stand in front of a hot stove or oven for the next hour getting something on the table so I am going to be working on slow cooker and freezer meals. They may be the world's most perfect solution to summertime fun. Well, not including popsicles and watermelon, of course ;)
Another one is ways to entertain kids in the summer. Oh man, can this can be tough!! Especially tough when they want to go play but you have a mountain of laundry, a sink full of dishes and/or an entire house to clean. Fear not! Pinterest has been a lifesaver with a boatload of ideas to beat the summertime stale-out when the chalk all breaks, the bubbles run out and it is too hot to ride a bike. I can't wait to share some of these with you!
Stay tuned- it is going to be a really busy summer!
And, as a lot of my closest friends know, big changes are on the horizon for us. We aren't exactly sure what is happening yet and the specific details, but we will keep you updated when something gets a little more concrete. However, most people who know me know that when things gets crazy chaotic, I revert to the most basic things I know- lists, organization, simplicity. This summer is going to be about trying to gets things as easy as possible.
One perfect example is cooking. The sun and temperatures are not a joke, the kids have been playing outside all day and it is now 5:00pm. CRAP! What are we going to do for dinner?? I don't want to run everyone through the drive-through and I don't want to go in and stand in front of a hot stove or oven for the next hour getting something on the table so I am going to be working on slow cooker and freezer meals. They may be the world's most perfect solution to summertime fun. Well, not including popsicles and watermelon, of course ;)
Another one is ways to entertain kids in the summer. Oh man, can this can be tough!! Especially tough when they want to go play but you have a mountain of laundry, a sink full of dishes and/or an entire house to clean. Fear not! Pinterest has been a lifesaver with a boatload of ideas to beat the summertime stale-out when the chalk all breaks, the bubbles run out and it is too hot to ride a bike. I can't wait to share some of these with you!
Stay tuned- it is going to be a really busy summer!
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