A week rarely passes that I don’t wish my parents lived closer. I guess it makes our time together all the more precious because it isn’t every day {or very often at all} that we get to see them! They spent the last 2 and 1/2 days with us and it was PERFECTION! They’ve headed south to spend a few days with Erika and her family and I’m hoping for a little more time with them before they travel home.
I wasn’t surprised at all when I saw they had towed an OLD wooden boat with them {Chance’s Christmas present} and the kids were thrilled for entertainment it afforded.
Speaking of Christmas, we celebrated with my parents and the jury is still out on whether Rover enjoyed receiving the toys or Daddy Boy enjoyed giving the toys more.
Yesterday was Justin’s 33rd birthday and Sunday was Mom’s {39th 
and holding}… we celebrated with his parents and mine over pizza and cake at a wonderful new restaurant in town, Fire Stone. It’s in an old art deco building they’ve restored outside and remodeled in. If you’re local, you should try it… and they have this wonderful dessert they call “Pot of Chocolate” {which I’m in the process of attempting to replicate}. A few weekends ago my friend Lindsey and I shared it… and we decided it alone is worth going for! Anyway, it’s not very often that our kids get to eat out for dinner {the hardest hours of a day for young kids} but they all managed to stay awake and kinda’ mind their manners.
Rover managed to negotiate his construction hat in… fully equipped with a flash light in the event of a loss of power.
We only had to ask him to turn his light off a few times… he not-so-happily obliged.
I brought a semi-homemade chocolate Bundt {birthday} cake with poured chocolate icing for Justin and Mom and it was the perfect ending to a perfect night!
I will admit that a true test will be under way tonight… a test of my love for my husband, who wants to celebrate his birthday by packing up the 3 rovers for a night of camping out, in the woods, by a lake, on … the ground. Now, I love the idea of camping, but I don’t really want to do it. In a camper? Yes! In a tent? No. But tonight I’m going to prove my undying love for him and sleep on the ground, in a tent, with him, & 3 little Rovers. I’ll be sure to document the events.
Now… 2 recipes from last week before I start my internet search for Airstreams.
Both of these are compliments of a friend who is always so gracious to share her recipes with me… both were delicious and easy!
Homemade Chewy Granola Bars {unbelievably good}
1 C peanut butter* {or sunflower butter}
2/3 C honey
1/2 C coconut oil**
2 C oats
2 total cups of a combination of coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, & pumpkin seeds*** {or your own combination of nuts & dried fruit}
mini chocolate chips to sprinkle on top
In medium size sauce pan melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.
Remove from heat and add oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and coconut. Stir well.
Press mixture into pan {I used my “Perfect Brownie” pan that is 11″ x 7″}, if you use a 9 x 13″ you don’t have to fill it all the way, just spread to your desired thickness and sprinkle {while still warm} with chocolate chips. Chill for 2 hours in fridge and cut into bars.
* My friend tried with natural peanut butter but they didn’t set up well… I think un-natural peanut butter {you know, like Jif} is the way go in this recipe.
**I found coconut oil at Publix, it’s hard {almost like wax} I think it’s kinda important to the consistency of the bars, let me know if you have success with another oil.
*** I found my sunflower seeds & pumpkin seeds in the bulk bins in the Publix produce section. I love that you don’t have to buy a ton and I think their prices are great… and I LOVE their dried cherries!
And you can also cut this recipe in half, which is what I did originally but wished I had doubled, so I went ahead and doubled it for you!
Ok, here’s one more from her wonderful recipe collection. It’s very hearty and wonderful for chilly weather… which we have none of now, but I imagine it will be back soon!
Hearty Bean & Barley Soup
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
handful of baby carrots, diced {I like petite baby carrots}
a couple tablespoons of oil {for sauteing}
1 package of turkey Kielbasa, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2″ pieces
2 32oz containers of chicken stock
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 C pearled barley*
2 cans of Navy beans {or your favorite white bean}
1 can of diced tomatoes
In large sauce/soup pan, over medium-high heat, saute carrots, onion, garlic, carrots, and kielbasa in oil for a few minutes. Reduce heat and cook 5 minutes. Add the broth, Italian seasonings, and barley, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 40-45 minutes {until barley is cooked}. Add beans and tomatoes and let simmer for a few more minutes before serving.
* I admit to not having ever cooked with barley before… and I love it, easy, hearty & inexpensive! If it’s new to you too, you can find it with the dried beans {in bags} in the grocery store! Or if you have any other barley recipes please share!
Ok… let the camping begin! At least there aren’t mosquitoes yet!
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I think I need to go back to bed 
