Mmmm, healthy and chocolate

granola bars
This was adapted from a recipe from a food blog connected to the pioneer woman blog.  I do that, I filter through random blogs and look at projects, recipes and file them away for another day never to be started let alone completed. However, I had all but one ingredient in my pantry and it looked too easy not to try.  The bars were yummy and under the category of "healthy", which to me, makes it even tastier.  Since buying wheat germ I've made it three times. I think I'm like my mom in that way, she use to get on a bit of recipe kick and bake it again and again....mini cheesecakes, dutch butter cake, scratch brownies...(highlights of a happy childhood for sure).

ingredients
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey

Preheat oven 350. 
Line 9x13 with foil and then spray with Pam.
Mix dry ingredients
Mix wet ingredients
Pour wet into dry and stir.
Pat into pan.  Bake 15-20 minutes depending on your preference of chewy vs. crisp.
Cut in pan and then let them cool in the pan.
Enjoy! 
(no surprise---I cut out all the oil and replaced with applesauce and it really worked well. I also did it once with 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup applesauce if you fear no oil.  You can also switch out the choco. and pb chips for whatever you like...craisins, white chocolate, or some yummy combo)

ode to my mom

I recognize I may be a little over zealous in my list making.  I find it's a way to get my feelings across concisely...kind of neccessity with three littles at my feet.

my mom

thoughtful
articulate
wise
lifelong learner
mary poppins...practically perfect in every way
could find a rhyme to anything
baker of "crisp" cookies
teacher to all
teacher by example
selfless
caregiver to many generations
well read
seeker of truth, light, and goodness
best editor, and typist around
refined without being stuffy
thrifty without being cheap
beautiful
(I've always longed for your tiny ankles, long neck, defined cheekbones, and olive skin tone
but I am grateful to share some of your same sensibilities.)
encouraging, and supportive for what ever we went for (starlite..um cheerleading..teach in tonga)
keeper to confidences
welcoming to strangers
giver of time
show'r of respect
can back up as well as she can drive forward
can drive anything...has driven more vehicles then most should ever have to
quick wit
builder of testimonies
makes raising six children look like fun
makes me want to be a better mom
magically instilled in me this desire to be good, without a bunch of rules
fierce snap, I'm working on my own
memory maker
storyteller
mentor
friend
my marme
 

She is one in a million

Laura has always told me I could put something in the blog if I ever wanted to - so this Mothers Day morning I'm using that privilege to say a little something nice about her.

Laurakate isa wonderful mother and I have to say that as long as I've known her I knew she would be.  For whatever reason we've been blessed with three of the most beautiful, thoughtful, funny, and at times...(ok maybe most of the time) challenging children in the whole entire world.  The beautiful, thoughtful and funnypart make the challenging times for me bearable (but I get to escape to the office for 8-10 hours a day)  To take on the all day (and currently all night) responsibility that she does is to me super-human. 

She is truly one in million and I'm grateful to have someone as amazing as her teach, care for, and guide our little ones.