:: vitality :: healthy sodas ::

a change i've made recently

is switching our occasional sodas

to a homemade healthy version.

we are drinking vanilla sodas

made with pellegrino 
and vanilla-flavored liquid stevia.

{sometimes with a splash of cream for vanilla cream sodas}

just a tiny bit of the liquid stevia flavors an entire glass.

this is what we're drinking
with popcorn for movie night.
this was an easy trade,
and everyone is happy about it.


note: the stevia is from the supplement section of my co-op.
it costs around $8.00, and lasts a very long time
as you only need a small amount.


♥

earthly delights :: csa bounty :: week 7

our share this week

purple kohlrabi

celery

broccoli

peas

garlic scapes

salad mix with calendula

rainbow chard

basil

zucchini

beets

we ♥ our farmers!

they took a scheduled break last week

{always the week of the 4th}

and we missed them.

♥

in between fluff and feathers,

rosa is adorably

scruffy

♥


thank goodness,

ned is looking better & better.

♥

:: corn fritters ::

using leftover corn-on-the-cob,

i made corn fritters.

i didn't measure...

corn + eggs + half & half + flour + cheddar

{salt & pepper}

mixed into a pancake-like batter,

cooked in butter {just like pancakes},

with sour cream & chives on top.

♥

:: rosa today ::

{cuddling ned}

{getting feathered}

{looking like a puppy}

♥

and, ned.

♥

ned's pictures

ned took these of rosa.

i took these of ned.

can you imagine trying to run errands

with a super-silly kid

with two black eyes?

i think he enjoys telling everyone the story.

♥

the best homemade granola bars ever

inspired by the posts

here, here, and here,

and the recipes

here, here, here, and most of all here.

we have been experimenting with

homemade granola bars.

my goal was to find a recipe we loved

so that i could pack homemade goodness

in lunchboxes this fall.


dear reader, i present to you

the best homemade granola bars ever

adapted & simplified from smitten kitchen

dry ingredients:

2 cups oats {leave one cup whole, blend the other}

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup each: almonds, pecans, cashews, cranberries, dates

{note: i chopped & toasted the nuts} 

{note: i used whole dates, so i chopped them, too}

{note: swap in your favorites: coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds}

wet ingredients:

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

3 Tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

add last:

1/3 cup almond butter

directions:

preheat oven to 350°

line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment {grease pan & parchment}.

mix dry ingredients.

mix wet ingredients.

add wet to dry, then add almond butter.

mix well.

with wet hands, firmly press mixture into prepared pan.

bake 40 minutes until golden.

allow to cool, then slice into bars.

{note: they will crumble less if you freeze them before cutting.}

wrap individually in waxed paper & store in fridge or freezer.

♥

hello, rosa.

do you see her brown feathers coming in?
do you see the sweet tuft on her cheek?

♥

hello, ned.

we ♥ rosa

lots of attitude

so much fluffy sweetness

we think rosa is tops

♥

{have you seen ned lately?  check him out here}

☼ sparkle ☼

slow shutter speed + sparklers =

♥

although it is 90°

rosa stays cool in our shady fountain

♥

ned looks like a zombie {here}

♥