Granola Bar Recipe

Thanks Jessie for this recipe. I really enjoyed the great stories that went along with my nephew sharing these with his friends.

(even for picky eaters)- This the original recipe I started with. The bold is the changes that I made. They were very yummy, even extremely picky Nephew loved them and kept asking for more.
By: PREGOCOOK

Prep Time: 15 Min Cook Time:35 Min Ready In:50 Min
Original Recipe Yield 24 granola bars
Ingredients
1 2 cups rolled oats
2 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (reduced to 1/2c next time reducing to 1/3c)
3 1/2 cup wheat germ
4 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (1tsp)
5 1 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat flour)
6 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
7 3/4 teaspoon salt (1/2 tsp)
8 1/2 cup honey (or agave)
9 1 egg, beaten
10 1/2 cup vegetable oil (Canola Oil)
11 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
-also added 1/2c craisins

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes (20-25 mins for chewy) in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, and then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Happy Halloween

Fruition was curious about what is happening in Calgary for Halloween.

Here are just a few ideas that we found:


Calgary Zoo: Boo at the Zoo Oct 26-31st

                   : other Zoo programs from Oct 16-30th

Heritage Park: Ghouls Night Out Oct 27-30th

Canada Olympic Park: Screamfest Oct 8-31st

Big Four: Cemetery of Sound Oct 29th.

 

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.  John Muir

"Watch"

Watch your thoughts; they lead to attitudes.
Watch your attitudes; they lead to words.
Watch your words; they lead to actions.
Watch your actions; they lead to habits.
Watch your habits; they form your character.
Watch your character; it forms your destiny.
Unknown Author

GREATER GOOD - SUMMER CHALLENGE!

My Personal Challenges

STEP 4 – Spring Cleaning and Summer Fun! July 1st, 2010


Category 1: Living like a minimalist

• I cleaned out my closet this past weekend and realized I had a few pairs of jeans I no longer wear. Continuing with my last challenge not to buy anything new, I took the jeans and gave them as hand-me-downs, or turned them into capri's, just in time for summer. So, every other weekend I would like to try to clean out, get rid of or donate stuff from an area in my home. For example, last week I cleaned out my closet and the next time I will sort through my storage room. The following week perhaps it would be a good idea to go through my desk and so on....lets see how far I can get!?!?

Category 2: Healthy Living

• July is the month where we can hopefully anticipate summer weather. But more than ever, summer time is smoothie time! A smoothie is the perfect way to cool off and get quick nutrition. A healthy guideline is to try to drink a nutritious smoothie every day in order to get your nutrients in a complete liquid form that is easy to digest. Smoothies are also easier and quicker to prepare than other complete meals.

Category 3: Pay it Forward

• I have been coaching kids camps during the week as my summer job while I am off school and although I have been doing it for years, I still find it fascinating to watch children interact. The younger ones have so much innocence and without a fleeting thought, seem to naturally help one another (for the most part!). One of the sunny days that we had last week, we allowed the kids to get smoothies at lunch. Low and behold one of the youngest girls ends up dropping her smoothie on the ground and as you can imagine, devastation set in immediately for this little girl. Without hesitation - and just before the tears start pouring down her face - another little girl about 7 years old interrupts and insists that she will share her smoothie with the little child who no longer had one. Not only was this the cutest thing to watch as it unfolded, but I thought to myself...... that 7 year old didn't hesitate to make the situation better. She didn't stop and wager what was in it for herself and didn't expect anything in return.

Sometimes I think as adults we all too often forget that an act of kindness should come without a price tag and without wager. I believe in karma and truly think that what you put out you will get in return. Perhaps we should all be a little more like six and seven year olds?!?

‘Greater Good’ Tid Bits

For your health: Summer Time Meatless Grilling! (compliments of the food network).

Grilled pizzas topped with avocado, fresh spinach, and goat cheese are a California dream come true.

Stretch the dough to whatever shape fits your grill most easily: round, oval, or even free form. Flipping a large round of dough on a hot grill can be tricky, so we made two smaller pieces and turned them over with tongs and a spatula -- no sweat.

Prep: 25 minutes

Total: 25 minutes

Serves 4

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• All-purpose flour, for shaping dough

• 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, fresh, or thawed if frozen

• 2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced crosswise

• 2 scallions, white and green parts separated, thinly sliced

• 1 log (5 ounces) soft goat cheese, crumbled

• Coarse salt and ground pepper

• 1 bag (5 ounces) baby spinach

• 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced

• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

Directions

1. Heat grill to medium. Brush a large rimless baking sheet (or an inverted rimmed sheet) with 1 tablespoon oil. On a lightly floured work surface, roll and stretch dough to two 8-inch ovals or rounds. Transfer to prepared sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon oil.

2. Transfer dough to grill. Cook, without turning over, until undersides are firm and begin to char, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs and a large spatula, place crusts on baking sheet, grilled side up.

3. Scatter crusts with tomatoes, scallion whites, and cheese; season with salt and pepper, and slide back onto grill. Cook, rotating occasionally, until cooked through and cheese begins to melt, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board.

4. In a medium bowl, combine spinach, avocado, scallion greens, vinegar, and remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Pile mixture onto pizzas; halve, and serve.

A Mother's Day Gift Solution

Procrastinating causes stress, but we have the answer.

You have less than a week to do right by Mom. She doesn't need to know that you've never really overcome your last-minute tendencies.

An Online Gift Certificate for relaxation is sure to make her feel great, and you look like you planned well. It's a solution that works for everyone!

After all, no harm, no foul.

Happy Mother’s Day.

A Little Update For Spring

What an amazing time of year it is, to see the winds of change weaving through our surroundings yielding new beginnings and blossoming growth. March turned out to be a month of workshops and learning learning learning, I can't wait to see you in the clinic for a Thai massage! I'd also like to thank all of the beautiful moms-to-be for participating in my maternal massage practicum, it was a great experience.