Busy, Busy, Bug, Butter & Bars

{If you’re here for a recipe…scroll down and avoid the dross.  You’re welcome}

As I type, my loved ones are passed out in their respective rooms, drooling, quite possibly, the dishwasher is running, the yogurt and kefir are culturing in their respective jars, the kettle is boiling {hallelujah!} and the wheat berries are soaking in preparation for sprouting.

I love it when accomplishing this much involves sitting on my heinie while inanimate objects do the work.

I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed by life lately.  Between laundry and dog hair and ever-hungry family members and un-connected-with friends and design deadlines, I feel like I’ve barely been keeping my head above water.

If I think too hard about the lists {oh, the lists…I’m so painfully type A} and how much remains untouched, and how little of me there is to go around, I just want to slip under my stupendous white comforter and hibernate for a few days.  Or weeks.

Which is why I only have two children.

And then I realize my period is due, and that absolutely no contemplative or reflective thinking should be allowed around this time of the month.  Because I’m always quite positive I might not make it out alive.

The Lunar breakdown.  It’s consistently pathetic.  But at least it’s consistent {Pray for my husband}.

So I stopped worrying and scurrying, and sat down – for the first time in what feels like forever – and watched a movie with my lovelies.  Without my phone keeping my shriveling brain occupied.  And without slipping away to swiffer the floor without little feet to assist, and without turning the computer on to slip in a few emails.

I was wildly proud of myself.

It was Sleeping Beauty.  And it was considerably less dreadful than I anticipated.

Needless to say, Bug only glanced at the screen during the fighting scenes.

Because, as I’m discovering more and more each day with this delicious little tyke…he is ALL boy.

Adores: frogs, cars, chainsaws, hammers, motorbikes, and, well…his penis.

He does, however, appear to have a penchant for riding his sister’s pink Barbie scooter.

Because while he burps and farts with the best of them…he’s still got good taste in transportation.

In other news {because I know you don’t read my blog to keep up on my cycle}, I’ll be speaking at a mom’s group next Tuesday evening, sharing my Temple Care 101 info.  So excited!  I feel like I’m living out this stuff I “preach” more now than ever!  25 pounds down since last Fall, and feeling more energetic and vibrant than I have in a long time, I’m pumped to share these tools with more gals.  Whoot whoot.

I also get to share Rediscovering Red Hot Monogamy with a group of moms next month…which thrills me to bits!  This, of course, will require additional field research.  Ahem.

There are plans for another speaking engagement in April, but details are still being nailed down.  Have I mentioned recently how much I love public speaking? {happy sigh}

I also love peanut butter {how’s that for a segue?}

In fact, my love for this creamy, salty substance has gotten a little out of control.  I blame it entirely on my husband.

My scrumptious man has started making homemade peanut butter to slather on his homemade bread.  Seriously, how did I score this guy?  He rocks my socks off!  If you haven’t ‘stumbled’ upon this recipe for beer bread, you’ll want to.  It’s ridiculously good.

The thing about this wicked peanut butter he’s making…it’s ground up with a little honey, and a little…wait for it…coconut oil.  Oh, holy mother of pearl, it’s good stuff.  Like, eat-it-out-of-the-jar-with-a-spoon good.

I may or may not make frequent stops at the refrigerator, armed with nothing but a soup spoon.  Don’t judge me.

You could be addicted too!  It’s easy and affordable to boot.

•••> Simply throw 2 cups of roasted, salted peanuts into a food processor with a tablespoon of honey (give or take), and a tablespoon of coconut oil (give or take).  Whip those babies up and you’re golden!  Want it extra crunchy?  Just throw in a handful of peanuts at the end and pulse it.  It’s oh, so divine!

And if you’re feeling a little guilty about eating it out of the jar with a spoon, you can use it up to make these chewy fruit & nut bars. We concocted these bad boys by throwing a bunch of things from our cupboard into a bowl with peanut butter and honey, and yes, more coconut oil.  As you may have guessed, they’re wildly delicious too.  So you might commit serious gluttony here too.  Forgive me.

So on second thoughts, just click the little red button in the upper-right hand corner and save yourself the temptation.

Or don’t.

It’s foolproof, and there is plenty of room for tossing in your favorites and leaving out the stuff you’re not partial to…so have fun making it your own.  And don’t blame your overindulgence on me.

Good thing they’re loaded with good stuff!

No Bake Chewy Fruit & Nut Bars

                       Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of prunes or dried apricots, chopped
• 1/2 cup of dried blueberries
• 1/2 cup of of dried cherries
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1 cup of old fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup of shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup of chopped almonds {roasted & salted are delish)
• 1/4 cup of squash or pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds {roasted & salted are delish)
• 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds {or flaxseed meal}
• 3 tablespoons of wheat germ
• 1/3 cup of extra virgin coconut oil
• 1 cup of natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Salt, to taste {I didn’t use salt because some of my nuts and seeds were salted}
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the first 11 {dry} ingredients.
2. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish, or line with parchment paper.
3. In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt your coconut oil and peanut butter, adding your honey, vanilla and cinnamon, stirring until well blended.
4. Once heated through, pour into your dry ingredients and mix well {preferably with your hands} until entire batch is evenly moist.  Lick fingers.  Wash hands.
5. Press into your prepared baking dish, using a piece of wax paper to level it out and press it in tightly {note: the paper helps it not stick to your hands and pull out of the dish}.
6. Evenly sprinkle the sesame seeds and chia seeds over the surface of the bars and press lightly, with wax paper, to help adhere.
7. Chill for an hour and then cut into bars.  Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.  Or three hours.   Or until they’re gone.  Whichever comes first.

{over and out}