Peanut butter granola bars

The average cost of a protein or granola bar is around $1.25.

The average man likes protein bars. Or my soon-to-be hubby does. He loves them.

There are certain things in every person's life they can't live without.
For me it's quinoa, eggs, coffee and tofu. I just have to always have these things on hand. I crave these things.

For my lover it's protein bars, soda waters, cereal and coffee. He drinks soda waters everyday and loves to snack on protein bars late night. 

When we first moved here and faced the difference of food costs here and food costs in Georgia, I felt discouraged. I became pragmatic about cooking from scratch and felt like I couldn't afford it. So I bought Sabra hummus.. the same batch of hummus that was recalled for listeria and I had sharp stomach pains for over a week. I felt awful.

I bought protein bars and easily spent over $20 that lasted us a week at best. 

This wasn't and isn't practical.

Where did my brain go? Maybe listeria made me stupid. 

I know I've mentioned this before but trying to figure out how to buy groceries and make them last was very challenging at first.
If you live in the Decatur, Georgia area, love your YDFM.

This week has been the very first week where we ate fulfilling meals every night, we still have plenty of groceries for the weekend and have gone to the store once. We try not to eat out a lot to save money.

Last weekend we carefully made a list, wrote out a rough draft of a menu for the week and went shopping. I gathered up some recipes and cooked all day last Sunday.

We're both 9-5ers. So something quick and easy in the morning and ingredients for fulfilling dinners at night was the goal.

I made chickpea hummus, a mushroom and leek frittata and peanut butter granola bars.

The hummus we snack on constantly. The frittata makes for a quick breakfast and the peanut butter granola bars are for breakfast, snacking and dessert.

PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS

• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 1/2 cup toasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon flax seeds
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 cup pitted dates (about 7 Medjool dates)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons natural, chunky peanut butter
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt
• dark chocolate

Toast

1 1/2 cups oats 

at 350 for 10 - 15 minutes. let cool completely.

Chop and blend

1 cup of Medjool dates 

add a little water to help it blend until you get a semi-smooth consistency.. like a paste

In a bowl add

3 tablespoons of chunky peanut butter

1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of chia seeds

1 tablespoon of flax seeds
1/2 cups toasted almonds

healthy pinch of salt

pinch of cinnamon

date paste

Mix together. 

It helps if you heat the honey and peanut butter in the microwave, oven or stovetop a bit.

Combine toasted oats and 

2 cups crisp rice cereal

Combine everything. It gets messy so just prepare to get your hands dirty. It's fun. 

Melt some dark chocolate in a double boiler and drizzle over the top.

Press in a baking sheet with plastic underneath and on top. 

I lay down a long sheet of plastic wrap on the counter and cut it. Then I do another long sheet and overlap them slightly, creating one large sheet. 

Put that on the bottom and add your granola mixture. Really make sure you press them tightly together. The tighter the better, I always say.

I only had a 9x13 pan free at the time so I used that and just filled it half way. I didn't want super thin bars. Make do with what you have. Press them overnight, then cut to size.

These bar should be refrigerated. 

I had the oats, chia seeds, flax seeds and peanut butter already. The almonds, cereal and chocolate cost me under $10. I got 12 bars out of this recipe and I still have all the ingredients to make two more batches. You do the math. I hate math.

I made them, I know what's in them, they're cheaper than store-bought and they're delicious.

You can also find this recipe from Sprouted Kitchen

HAPPY FRIDAY!

My weekend and faux biscuits -n- gravy

After a long and relaxing weekend, I feel refreshed. Normally my love and I try to get out and go hiking or visit some new places, but this weekend we spent most of our time at home and it was lovely.

Friday started off with a half-day at work. Work, by the way, is going great. I'm given more responsibilities every week and feel like I'm building a good amount of trust with my co-workers. As I sit here and write this I notice the dirt under my fingernails is gone. I never disliked dirt under my nails, I just didn't think it'd ever really go away.

 After work my love and I went to Vik's Wheelhouse after a long and dreadful visit to the DMV. 

Why does the DMV always feel so eery?

Either way, we are officially California residents.

Woohoo!

Our initial plan was to go to Mare Island Brewing Company and get a beer but they don't open until 5pm on Fridays and it was 4:30pm. We didn't want to wait and the floating barge at Vik's Wheelhouse was seriously calling our name. 

We got a couple delicious Anchor Steams and sat out on the deck in the sun. 

Looking out into the water and drinking beers with your babe is where it's at!

We got the mixed seafood boil and what a treat! 

Whole lobster, crab legs, mussels, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn swimming in garlic butter and broth.. worth every penny. We also got the clam chowder and it was amazing. 

Vallejo is showing us its charm slowly but surely.

Saturday we finally hung some pictures in the house. What a difference pictures and mirrors make. 

Our new home finally feels like home.

Adjusting to new settings makes for a new kind of home. 

It's been fun decorating a little differently. New windows, new trees and new plants all shifted my decorating style. Leaving the windows open and the blinds pulled up exposes all the natural lighting and green outside. I decorated trying to match the exterior throughout the yard and house.

That night we made some chicken tacos. Using dried ancho and pasilla chiles changes everything. I take two of each and lightly toast them in oil in a pan.  

You can use the same oil from the chiles for further cooking like searing chicken. 

Then I take them out and rehydrate them in simmering water for a few minutes until soft. Deseed and stem them, then buzz them up in a blender with a few raw garlic cloves, a handful of cilantro and white vinegar. Add the paste to chili, a sauce or mix in some braised meat. 

So good!

Sunday morning we were in the mood for something southern. 

Or, we are always in the mood for southern food. 

As I've mentioned before, trying to find organic meat around here can be arduous. I am still a fan of using Torfurky products every now and then. This time was particularly awesome.

Faux Biscuits -n- Gravy

Use half a yellow onion and cut small dice. Sweat the onions in a pan over medium low heat in olive oil. Throw in a bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper.

Once the onions are soft, add your tofurky "ground beef". You're just getting the "ground beef" nice and hot. Then add about a tablespoon of AP flour and stir. You want to incorporate the flour completely.

The onions and "ground beef" will start to soak up the flour and get thick. 

Because we are not actually vegetarian, I added a little homemade chicken stock for flavor. You can skip this step or add vegetable stock. You can really do whatever you want.. At this point, you could throw everything on the ground and let your dogs have a field day. You know, adjust as needed.

 I let the chicken stock reduce down and then I added non-fat milk. Season generously with cracked black pepper. I also added white pepper. I love the musky-ness of white pepper. Salt to taste.

Simmer this on low until the consistency is nice and thick. Continue to stir every now and then. 

As it cooks, it gets darker.

I warmed some wheat english muffins in the oven and cooked some eggs over-easy.

Cut your english muffins, biscuits or croissants in half, pour over the seasoned gravy and top with eggs. 

I like my gravy thick faux sho.

My love said he couldn't even tell it wasn't the real thing.

But it is real! It was a flavorful and delicious breakfast that filled us up and made us happy. 

That's all that matters.

Sunday night we made deviled eggs, grilled some chicken and vegetables and watched The League. We LOVE The League.

A great weekend spent mostly inside cooking, flirting, drinking wine, playing with the dogs and lounging on the couch.

How was your weekend?