A Larabar Review

How many out there have tried larabars? How many like them? I've heard various opinions on the bars, some hate them, some love them. All larabars have a date base, allowing them to have the soft and chewy texture. Dates, when processed, can pretty much be molded into whatever you want. I cannot wait to get a food processor so I can make my own larabars! I love that the ingredient list is short. They usually only contain fruits and nuts.

The first larabar I had ever tried was the peanut butter cookie, which contains dates, peanut butter, and peanuts. This was acutally not the best choice for my first larabar ever. Some may love them, but I typically like the more fruit flavored, the peanut flavor dried my mouth up.

Anywho, yesterday I tried the coconut cream pie larabar! I was a little hesitant because I wasn't sure how the coconut would blend with dates. My favorite bar so far has been the applie pie! Oi, completely delicious and it tastes like you are eating an apple turnover.

The coconut cream pie contains dates, coconut, coconut oil, cashews, and almonds. I bit into it and at first it didn't taste like much of anything, but THEN, a burst of coconut flavor exploded in my mouth! It was fantastic. If you like coconut, I would STRONGLY recommend this larabar! It is definitely one of my favorites, but I have to try some more! I hesitate moving from my apple pie:) If you don't like coconut, I would suggest not trying this. Go figure:)

Once I get the long awaited for food processor, I will make these!

What is your favorite larabar? Have you attempted to make them?

Now, to completely change topics. I've gotten into a lot of discussion lately about the purpose of the Old Testament. Many are turning away from the entire book thinking it's pointless and the God in that book is completely different than the God in the New Testament. As you may or may not know, I've been reading "Champagne for the Soul," which is about a man's 90-day journey to being completely joyful in a broken world. It's brought a lot of light into my days, bringing knowledge that joy doesn't come from wordly things or circumstances, but by attitude and knowing God's love for us. The author isn't joyful by nature, and he struggles with everyday tasks and duties. The book is thought provoking and creates a lot of challenges to my personal everyday life.

Back to what I was saying. I read an interesting part in Chapter 7 where he addresses the Old Testament difference.

"What was the purpose of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament? Did the slaughtering of animals bring satisfaction to God? No, for as David prayed, "You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings" (Psalm 51:16). What then did God expect from all those messy sacrifices?

He wanted His people to be happy. He wanted them to away from rituals feeling joyful and free, knowing that their sins had been dealt with and would not return to haunt them..."

I think we can all relate to that statement. God asks us to do things sometimes that may not seem pretty or easy, but His purpose is so great that we cannot comprehend. People didn't understand why they had to kill animals. People today don't understand why they have to give things up. Why am I convicted with something so simple as listening to a non-christian radio station? I've decided that I won't fight it, I'll just accept it. God calls us to different things, therefore creating different sacrifices. Sometimes the Old Testament seems pointless and just "too different" for our problems of today. But, if you dig deep enough in to the moral of the stories, you will find that it truly does relate to our today, just in a different way.

Cake anyone?

My mind is exploding with ideas and thoughts galore. What will I  bake next? The common epidemic of my day. Also, who will do these dishes?

Yep, baking can get quite ugly in the kitchen.

Flour explosions, dough spills, sticky floors...it's really not pretty but I will conquer it all, I tell ya.

Yesterday morning I woke up and my first thought was I need to make some coffee. No surprise there! Second thought, What will I bake? I need to bake! I then remembered that I was going over to Matthew's house later that night for a dinner party and it would just be offensive if I didn't bring anything, right? : )

CAKE! I wanted to ice something is really what it came down to. Just pour something sweet on top of a mountain of heavenly moist cake. Yep, it's what I shall do.

I gathered the ingredients to create a spicy, moist, and nutty cake.

Bohemian Wedding Cake

That would be brown sugar and pumpkin. Cream it together.

Get your flour mixture together and put it to the side.

Creamy gooey-ness..

I don't have a nut masher of any sorts, so getting creative is a necessity. It worked quite well if I say so myself.



Fold in the nuts.

Just look at it. Smooth and creamy. Perfect.

This cake right here will serve as a perfect air freshener. The house smelled like Christmas, I may have to bake one just for the smell.

The last requirement is to get a friend to taste test.

I wanted to document her reaction and thoughts but maybe next time.

Bohemian Wedding Cake:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 15-ounce can pumpkin

1.5 tsp baking soda

pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp salt

roughly chopped walnuts

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup canola oil

2 eggs

vanilla extract

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.

Frosting will be your choice! I made a homemade cream cheese icing and I couldn't tell ya the recipe. I just threw a bunch of stuff in a bowl and mixed it together.

ENJOY!

This recipe was inspired from ELR.

The devotion for today is about allowing obstacles to work positively in your life. Let God control the circumstances instead of you trying to avoid them. Don't try and fight opportunities or even road blocks, allow them to work in your life and teach you. One of the hardest things for me is to give it all to God. I act like I do and I even convince myself that I do, but the reality is, is if I'm doubting or fighting, I'm not giving it up. One thing that I find hard to give up is control. Whether it be food, working out, or even just a situation.

What do you try to control in your day-to-day?

I highly recommend you listen to Forever Jone's song:  He Wants It All

Pieces of My Weekend

The weekend was filled with baking and adventure. Friday night we made tons of homemade pizzas (sorry no pictures) and homemade pumpkin whoopie pies. I'll take a picture of those soon enough. Saturday we made homemade pumpkin butter. MMMMM.

Sunday, adventures to the Farmers Market and a homemade dinner with good friends.

Don't worry, I pulled the sticker off before we puréed!

Yummy roasted pumpkins, they sink and swim.

After delicately puréeing the beauties and adding a little spice.

Homemade chocolate covered raisins. Sadly, no one at the party liked dark chocolate, except for me. Can't seem to please the folks. : )

Delicious hot tea. The color was amazing.

My first batch of homemade oat bars. Definitely needs work, but a delicious granola I must say and tasted quite yummy in my shake this morning.



Just had to get myself in there.

Devotion for today:

Take time to be still. When you tie yourself up in an anxious knot, you are ignoring His gift of peace.

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Numbers 6:25-26

"The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Peach Pie Please

Yesterday was quite glorious. It all started at 5 a.m when I woke up and showered. After my shower I made my homemade pumpkin spice latte (not really a latte but it sounds prettier), got ready for work, and did my devotions. My daily devotions come from "Jesus Calling," and I also am reading the New Testament. After having a pretty rough and exhausting day before, the devotion was perfect. The devotion was about not letting my circumstances define who I think God is.

 "Jenny, I love you. Always. Allow my grace to shine through your day. Stay in constant communication with me and give me those moments."

You know those days where you're having a bad day? Are you still praising God? Sometimes I don't. All I think about is what's happening to me and how I don't like it.

Instead of feeling God's love and grace through those circumstances, I'm allowing those circumstances to define God.

Work was better yesterday. I came in cheerful, happy and energized. We went to the Sudanese Center to do our monthly monitoring and then we went to a Sudanese Restaurant with Gat, the executive director. His story is amazing. He spent most of the lunch explaining his journey from Sudan to America. I can't even express the feelings I felt during it. Let's just say I had tears in my eyes almost the whole time. Absolutely amazing.

Since I got off work a little earlier than usual, I had a lot of the evening to myself. I worked out and then showered. As I was relaxing and watching The Office, I kept thinking about how much I wanted to bake. You see, I love baking.

It's a pure joy in my life. But I don't do it nearly enough because I don't think I can. But I've nipped that in the bud, I CAN do it. And I will.

I'd love to start sending stuff to people. I love baking but I don't eat it really. A couple bites maybe but I'd rather give it to someone else. So, if you have a request or want something, e-mail/message/facebook, something! I'd love to do it.

I digress.

I layed in bed thinking, I really don't want to go to the store. So what could I make with what I have?

I have flour.

Butter.

Eggs.

Peaches.

Sugar.

PEACH PIE!

I've never made pie before, 1st attempt was actually quite impressive if I say so myself.

Here it goes.

You start off with butter and flour. LOTS.

Mush it around with your hands. BY far my favorite. You may think it's weird, but I was in heaven doing this.

My hand is in there somewhere, but it starts forming into clumps.

Take this lovely mound and stick it in the freezer, please.

While the mound of bliss is freezing, boil and cut up the peaches.

Toss them in sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch.

I stuck that back in the fridge.

30 minutes later, my mound is ready to be flattened.

No rolling pin? That's ok.

Pasta sauce will work!

mmm...

Looking good..



Carefully drape it over the pie pan. Don't FORGET the grease! Please.



At this point, I am the most excited person in the world.

Poke holes in the crust.

I can probably improve on the lattice topping.

Baking at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes

Done!

I successfully created my first ever homemade pie.



I love my apron. I think it's my good luck apron.

Thanks Mommy! :)

I'll post the recipe on my facebook!