relationship advice and a granola bar recipe

i've been doing a little sprucing up around here, so if you catch me in google reader, feel free to check out my new layout! i also updated my pages, if you're so inclined :)

so, how to keep your man?

i'm no relationship expert at the wise old age of 20, but one thing i know for sure:

get in the kitchen!

it's the little things that keep a relationship solid, and making something from the heart is a small way to remind your guy he's incredible.

and seriously though, what guy doesn't love food? especially homemade, real food?
so today i practiced what i preach.

whether you cook, bake, or make easy mac for your man, i think it's just important to make the effort.

so still sniffling, i headed into the kitchen.

i was thinking of making something nutritious, but still with man-appeal, portable, quick, and easy to throw in his gym bag for between clients (he's a personal trainer).

the result?

thick, chewy granola bars

slightly adapted, but not much, from this Smitten Kitchen recipe

first, preheat your hotbox to 350*, and line an 8x8 inch pan with foil.

spray that bugger REALLY WELL with non-stick spray.

mix your dry ingredients:

i used 1 2/3 c rolled oats (pulsed in processor to break them up), 1/3 c oat flour (ground in processor), 3/4 c sugar, 1/2 t salt, and sprinkle cinnamon.

add your mix-ins:

i used a 2 c mixture of dried strawberries, chocolate chips, flax seeds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds.

don't forget to toast your nuts/seeds!

mix your wet ingredients:

1/3 c peanut butter, big splash vanilla, 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/3 c light corn syrup, 1 splash water.

sidenote: i wouldn't normally use corn syrup, but i had a leftover bottle, and wanted to try the recipe as written.

combine: pour your wet into your dry.

mix well.

spread your mixture into your 8x8, and moosh it flat and tight.

helpful tip: if you have a hard time packing your bars in tight, spray a piece of plastic wrap and use it under your hands to smooth.

admire your handiwork.

pop those suckers in the oven for 30-40 minutes.

while you wait, you can clean up the huge mess you just made.

or assign your guy to dish duty!

once you're done with the dishes, check your bars. they're done when they're brown around the edges and mostly set up in the middle.

after they come out of the oven, let them hang out on a cooling rack (still in pan) for about 10 minutes. when you can handle the pan, pop them in the fridge until they're chilled.

when chilled, lift bars out of the pan by the foil, cut into servings, and go hug your man!

they keep well in the freezer, if they last that long.

and speaking of, right as i was about to post this, guess who walked in the door?

my amazing boyfriend, who brought me sick presents!

he is the best.

guess the granola bars work?

- rebekah