Energy Bars

This is my new healthy find. Homemade healthy energy bars. They are so easy to make and they taste REALLY GOOD! You can freeze them for a quick snack on the run but we haven't gotten them to last that long.


Energy Bars by Ellie Krieger (on foodnetwork.com)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 by 13in pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

1 cup of oats (old fashioned or quick oats, it doesn't matter which)
1/2 cup of raw unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of toasted wheat germ
1/4 cup of whole-wheat pastry flour (I used 3/4 cup of freshly ground whole-wheat flour instead of the wheat germ and pastry flour and that works well)
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of dried dates (dried figs are good too)
1/2 cup of dry milk
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/3 cup of maple syrup (honey or agave also works)
2 large eggs

Place all dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. Add the syrup and eggs and pulse until the mixture is well combined. It will resemble a coarse paste. Transfer to the baking pan and spread evenly. Bake until just done, about 20 min. Cut into 20 squares. Enjoy!

Tri-athlete

Micheal was the first in our family to be a triathlete. He did a kids triathalon on Sat. (I say the first because the whole time Jeremy kept saying "I'm jealous!")
Micheal started with a 100 yrd swim. He had to do 4 laps (one way). He hadn't been in a pool since the end of last summer, nor has he had any swimming lessons, so this was his weakest part of the tri. The pool was heated but it was only 74 degrees so it was cold.

Then 2 mile bike. His race started at 7:20pm so it was starting to cool off, there was a cold wind blowing and he was wet. When he finished the bike portion his lips were purple and he was shivering. We gave him a dry shirt so he could continue, but he was struggling because he was so cold. Poor guy!

And last was 3/4 of a mile run.

He was the youngest in his age division (11-12yr olds) so he was at a disadvantage to begin with (there were some serious kid triathletes in his group, they had actual street bikes) but he still tried and he finished! That is the most important part of doing any race, that you don't quit when it gets hard, you keep trying until you cross the finish line. After a race, it is a tradition to reward the racer with a treat so we planned on a trip to Smoothie King, but he decided that he wanted hot chocolate and a warm shower instead. He slept like a rock that night and fell asleep at church too. He gave it everything he had but the cold just zapped him. He said he wants to do another one but only in the summer. We are so proud of him!

Hullabaloo

I can't believe it has been so long since the last post. We have been pretty busy living life. Here is a quick recap of the last 2 months.

I celebrated my 31st birthday. I made some healthy fudgy brownies and topped it with pudding. Our home teachers showed up unexpectedly with store made cupcakes that had 3lbs. of frosting on top (yes, I weighed it after I scraped it off) and a couple of gifts to make me feel like a princess, they thought I was out numbered or something:).

Micheal turned 11! He is getting so grown up. Scary but exciting too.

Micheal had a homemade carrot cake with vanilla pudding.

He got a model rocket for his birthday. We set it off one morning and I have it on video but.. I recorded it with the camera turned so the video is sideways. I'll get it next time.


Clayton had his birthday a week later. Clayton chose to have a hot fudge pudding cake with ice cream.

Then we had the pinewood derby. Clayton's car was a hammerhead shark.

Micheal's was a tank. Jeremy had to hollow out the inside of the car to make it's weight legal for the derby.

Notice that Tanner had to be accounted for so he added his "Mack" to the picture.

Fun times!