Whew! There has been a lot going on! So much, that I have not had time to post...I will quickly try to catch up on the wonderful happenings in our life!
January 1 -
I completed a HUGE goal as I finished qualifications and became a Mary Kay Independent Sales Director! I am able to mentor other ladies to reach their goals and be all that the Lord created them to be! I also was able to go part time at the church (which was also a goal of mine) -- so that I can be home more w/ my boys. I want to be the main influence in their lives and my MK business is affording me that opportunity! I have an incredible Unit of ladies and can't wait to see all that is in store for us!
Me and some of my MK Girlfriends at a leadership conference in Houston (Jan 2011)
Sr. Director Heather Cartee w/ her two offspring, Dana Pizzo and myself!
February -
My grandfather was put in the hospital. He had to have a triple bypass, which lead to many other issues/problems. Things were looking more than grim, however, after 5 weeks at Gaston Memorial, he was moved to Greenville, SC yesterday and is now in rehab. God is so good!
Sawyer and Henry (Pop), my grandfather, pre-surgery
March 1 -
My big guy turned 4! I can hardly believe it!
Gramma Kate and Miss Claire
Papaw and Wes (and some bright sunshine!)
Lastly, I just wanted to share a yummy idea from my friend Joy! Hope you enjoy!
Homemade Granola Bars
I really love granola bars - I know what my sisters are thinking right now......."yeah b/c you are a granola". ha. Anywho, they are a quick grab, packed with good things and last a while. However, I haven't found very many that I like. They are either too sweet, too crumbly, etc.
So I searched the internet last week for a good homemade recipe. I was going on a backpacking trip and wanted to take a really tasty good bar with us.
BINGO! I found it. They turned out really well and you can mix up the recipe with whatever ingredients you like best. I thought I would share, just in case anyone out there wants to give it a go.
Homemade Granola Bars:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gather your ingredients:
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup nuts*, crushed
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• approx. 8 oz. dried fruit
*Nuts. I used pecans, but any nuts will do, even peanuts.
Optional: Have a very eager little helper.
[1] Crush Nuts.
To crush your nuts, put them in a plastic bag and smash them with a heavy mallet, measuring cup, or sauce pan.
[2]Then, mix the nuts, oats, wheat germ, and sunflower seeds in a baking dish with sides.
[3]Toast them in the oven for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes so that they don’t get burned.
[4]Meanwhile, prepare a glass 9X13 dish for your granola by lining it with waxed paper, lightly sprayed with a nonstick spray.
[5]Put the brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
[6]By now, your grains and nuts should be toasted, so mix everything together in a large bowl. The grains, the liquid “glue,” and the dried fruit.
Mix everything REALLY WELL because you want to make sure the “glue” gets all over everything.
[7]Now, dump your granola mixture into your prepared baking dish.
[8]Spread out the mixture with a wooden spoon or spatula. Now fold over the sides of the waxed paper or add a sheet on top, and PRESS HARD all over the granola. You want to compact it together so that your bars won’t fall apart when you cut them.
**Optional: I added a handful of whole almonds to the top and pushed them down into the mixture. You probably could do this with chocolate chips too.
[9]Wait 2-3 hours or until the granola has totally cooled.
Then, open the waxed paper …
And carefully turn the granola onto a large cutting board, peeling away the rest of the paper.
Now, firmly pressing down with a big knife (not sawing), cut your granola into whatever size bars you’d like.
[10] I wrapped my bars individually so they would be an easy grab-and-go.
VOILA. Hope you enjoy. They are chewy and a nice balance of sweet (fruit and glue) and nuts.
So I searched the internet last week for a good homemade recipe. I was going on a backpacking trip and wanted to take a really tasty good bar with us.
BINGO! I found it. They turned out really well and you can mix up the recipe with whatever ingredients you like best. I thought I would share, just in case anyone out there wants to give it a go.
Homemade Granola Bars:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gather your ingredients:
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup nuts*, crushed
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• approx. 8 oz. dried fruit
*Nuts. I used pecans, but any nuts will do, even peanuts.
Optional: Have a very eager little helper.
To crush your nuts, put them in a plastic bag and smash them with a heavy mallet, measuring cup, or sauce pan.
[2]Then, mix the nuts, oats, wheat germ, and sunflower seeds in a baking dish with sides.
[3]Toast them in the oven for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes so that they don’t get burned.
[5]Put the brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
Mix everything REALLY WELL because you want to make sure the “glue” gets all over everything.
[8]Spread out the mixture with a wooden spoon or spatula. Now fold over the sides of the waxed paper or add a sheet on top, and PRESS HARD all over the granola. You want to compact it together so that your bars won’t fall apart when you cut them.
[9]Wait 2-3 hours or until the granola has totally cooled.
Then, open the waxed paper …
And carefully turn the granola onto a large cutting board, peeling away the rest of the paper.
Now, firmly pressing down with a big knife (not sawing), cut your granola into whatever size bars you’d like.
[10] I wrapped my bars individually so they would be an easy grab-and-go.
