Jun 12, 2010

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

10 comments:

  1. I love the new layout! It's snazzy. :P

    And these granola bars look fantastic. I'll have to try them out with honey sometime! :)

    That was sweet of your boyfriend to get you sick presents! It was also sweet of you to make him food while you were sick... Haha.

    PS: very very very very very jealous of your sink. It's huge. I want it.

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  2. GIRL I LOVE THIS RECIPE!! YUMM!!

    OKAY you are so incredibly freaking sweet- you seriously warmed my heart SO much with your comment. thank you for being SO ENCOURAGING!!!!!! love you!!

    and your BF is a keeper :) :)

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  3. Looks delish!...And he even brought you some good magazines! ..score! lol

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  4. Great layout, Rebekah!
    This post put a wide smile on my face. You are right, those are words of ancient wisdom : To seduce a man you must know how to satisfy his stomach.
    Your recipe is printed out, I will make it to someone special one beautiful day.
    And yes, you will be invited to our wedding ;D

    Hope you are feeling better my friend :)

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  5. I hope you will feel better soon! I think getting sick is unavoidable sometimes.

    The "flair" you put in those bars sounds amazing... dried strawberries? Chocolate? Walnuts? mmmm. :-)

    PS - WOW! Amazing new layout, Rebekah!

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  6. looks great...how did they taste with the corn syrup? will you leave that in the recipe next time or not?

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  7. great new layout! and the recipe looks great - they do look nice and chewy, and I love the flavors you combined for your mix-ins.
    Hope you're feeling a little bit better!

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  8. So sweet what your bf did. :)

    I agree that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! ;) My boyfriend is SUCH a foodie, I struggle with an eating disorder and honestly was never much of a foodie anyways, but he inspires me to try new things and push myself. Cooking for others makes me want to eat too because I put so much work and love into it.

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  9. Love your advice! I would stick around for those granola bars for sure =P

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  10. mo - i know! it's mom's kitchen toy :) when i moved back home, i wasn't too sad about it!

    alisha - thank you! and dried strawbs are SO good :)

    anon - they TASTED good. like what you would buy from the store, but i def. don't plan on eating corn syrup in my daily diet. i would much rather use honey/maple syrup, and i will next time! i'll update you guys when i do.

    jess - they were chewy! i'm gonna make yours next :)

    peace - girl, i've read your blog many times, and i know you are incredible for pushing through the struggle! your man sounds incredible. when i really struggled with food, i found cooking for others was a good release for me - i hope you find the same in due time.

    megan - you are too cute! and you may have some :)

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