Tuesday, January 31, 2012

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

So I stumbled across this recipe and made it the next day. They sounded so easy and delicious, and they were! You can put any toppings you want s'mores (graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate chips), cinnamon raisin, anything!! I combined my new obsessions: butterscotch chips and coconut and added chocolate chips because it was in the original recipe. But feel free to customize them with whatever floats your boat! 

Taste: SO good! Mine came out a little too sweet so I might add some cinnamon and more chocolate chips
Texture: Really soft and chewy, they bend while you are holding them.
Would I make this again?: Yes! I will probably make another batch for next week! 

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
yield: 10 bars
found: lauren's latest

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
additional toppings (butterscotch or any flavor chips, coconut, pretzels, etc)

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. In a small bowl, stir together your desired toppings. Set both aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes. Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. Sprinkle with toppings and press down lightly. Cool on a countertop to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Rebounderz Trampoline place

So... there was a Living Social deal for this place in Sterling, Virginia called Rebounderz. It's basically an entire gym (geared towards kids) full of trampolines, and it is AMAZING. We went for my "26th b-day party". First we jumped normally...
Then we did group stunts...
Then we jumped into the foam pit...
We threw balls at each other...
And went upside down..
And we all were VERY sweaty and tired. The place was so much fun though! We payed for an hour and it was more than enough time. It was a blast. If you have a place near you, I highly recommend going!! 

Happy Chinese New Year!

found: bake happy

paint the year

How cool is this tea towel painted as a 2012 calendar? Buy it here!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Barbacoa Beef

Madeleine told me that I HAD to make this recipe so I did. And it's delicious! 


Taste: Delicious! We had it with corn guacamole which really enhanced the flavor
Texture: Moist and tender
Would I make this again?: Yes! Just throw it in the crockpot and have a delicious dinner at the end of the day! 


Barbacoa Beef 
found: Gina's Skinny Recipes

3 lbs beef eye of round or bottom round roast, all fat trimmed
5 cloves garlic
1/2 medium onion
1/2 lime, juice
2-4 chiptoles in adobo sauce (to taste)
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp ground cloves
salt and pepper
3 bay leaves
1 tsp oil
1 cup water
Place garlic, onion, lime juice, cumin, oregano, chipotles, cloves in a blender.

Trim all fat off meat, cut into 4 inch chunks. Season with salt and pepper and brown on high heat in 1 tsp oil. Add liquefied spices, water, bay leaves and put in crockpot on high for 4 hours.

Once cooked and the meat is tender, remove the meat and place in a dish. Shred it with two forks and discard the bay leaves. Return the shredded meat to the pot, adjust salt and cumin (you may need to add more) to taste. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes to let the flavors penetrate.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Ella!

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but I've been a little busy with a... brand new PUPPY!!
She is a Miniature Dachshund. She is now 15 weeks, and we got here near Thanksgiving at 9 weeks! Here are some of my favorite pictures of her so far:
Her very first picture. This is the night we brought her home
Reading with Dad
Sleepy puppy
Baby asian pupster
Just hanging out with Dad
Christmas puppy!
Ah, I love this little pup so much already!! 
P.S. If you can't tell, I also got a new camera!! I finally caved and got a Canon Rebel T2i. I love it but don't really know how to use it. Luckily I'm taking a camera class this weekend!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012