Busy At Home

"May I a small house and large garden have;

 And a few friends,

And many books, both true."  

Abraham Cowley

I found this quote in a new to me book by Sharon Lovejoy called, "Trowel & Error."  This is such a handy book.  Lots of great tips about pest control etc, using natural products.  I had a gift card for Barnes and Noble and went looking for a Sharon Lovejoy book based on Vee's recommendation.  I had to order this one, but I am so thankful I did.  I'm enjoying it already.

 We've had a lot of home economics projects lately.  Yesterday Sarah made homemade play dough.  Magenta - so pretty!

 Rachel made these wonderful oatmeal bars.  

Chocolate Granola Bars

Here’s what you need:

    1/2 cup natural peanut butter

    1/3 cup local honey

    1/4 cup unsalted butter

    1 cup oats (not quick oats)

    2 tablespoons wheat germ

    1/2 cup coconut

    1/2 cup chocolate chips (Mini work best, but it doesn’t really matter.)

What to do:

1.  Melt the butter, peanut butter and honey in a pot over medium to low heat, stirring constantly.  Turn off the burner when melted.

2.  Pour in the cup of oats and the wheat germ.  Stir until combined.

3.  Wait until it cools and stir in the coconut and chocolate chips.  Or, if you’re impatient with things like this, like I am, go ahead and dump it all right in.  The result will be a more uniform chocolate taste.

4.  Pour into foil-lined 8 X 8 pan and stick in the fridge.

5. Once cooled, flip out (the bars….not you) onto cutting board and cut to the size you like.

 We substitute ground flax seed for the wheat germ, because Lindsay is trying to be gluten free.  Oh, and we don't add coconut.
We wrap them individually and put them in a ziplock bag and store them in the refrigerator.  They are so good - fudge like, and nutritionally sound.
 

 

I taught Sarah to make our granola recipe - well, I attempted to anyway!  She wants to learn to cook, but was all taken up with a different thing today when I was walking her through the recipe.  I don't think she could do it by herself yet, but a few more times and I know she will be able to do it.

This is the recipe we make - 

6 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 organic sugar (could use maple sugar or sucanat)

3/4 cup ground flax seed (or wheat germ)

1/2 pecans (I use walnuts)

1/2 cup oil (I use mild tasting olive oil)

1/3 cup maple syrup (sweetest version) or brown rice syrup (slightly milder) 

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

You may add sunflower seeds, raisins, anything you would like to add.

Just mix it altogether, and spread it out on a rimmed baking pan, and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  After 5 minutes stir the granola and cook for 5 more minutes.  

 Kyle ate 2 bowls of it for dinner!

So I've been busy at home.  What have you been up to?