Sunday, February 28, 2010

accumulation

An accumulation of gratitude, snow, and granola bars...
I thought I should drop in here to say, "Phew! February is on it's way out!" And I would like to say thank you for all the encouragement to be bold back to this longest shortest month, and return all the virtual high-fives you gave me about the Crafty Crow appearance. Thank You!This is some of the beautiful snow that fell last week. Here is what we did with some of it:*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
For some reason today, I just had to make granola bars. I haven't tried making it from scratch before. I've found it hard to find one that I really like at the store. I'm picky about the bars I buy; I don't tolerate cashews, don't want the chocolate (I know, I know, blasphemous), like a good portion of chew, a titch of salt, and not too sweet. Please. Oh, and I love knowing exactly what's in there. I guess it should have occurred to me sooner. I tweeked a recipe I found over at delicious Smitten Kitchen. My modifications: I only had whole almonds, so I sent them through the nut-grinder. I didn't have wheat germ, so substituted oat bran. In my impatience, I added the oat bran before I was instructed, so it got toasted with the oats, almonds, and coconut (unsweetened); no harm done. Our honey is very solid, so I melted it a bit before mixing it in. And I felt compelled to add 2 tbls of butter, melted (Deb said I could!) For fruit I used dried cranberries, dried apricots, and raisins. You can see the sunflower seeds on top; that's because I forgot to mix them in. I just pushed them onto the top of the granola bars after it was all pressed into the pan. YUM. I think you should make some too. {By the way, that rigatoni is calling my name!}

So, if you're reading, you've made it through February too! Hooray for us! I hope to have a finished object (or two) to share later this week. Time to check out the Closing Ceremonies; the Olympics really helped me through this last bit of the calendar. :)

15 comments:

slmills said...

yum. very yummy looking.

slmills said...

yippee. i didn't think i could leave a comment. all right then.

tangled sky studio said...

happy end of february! i need to get on the granola bar thing too as i find the chocolate in most bars a bit off putting as well.don't get me wrong...i like chocolate other places just not in the kid's or my bars.i've done something similar to the rigatoni but i'm all over the caramelized onion and cauliflower tart...thanks for the link!i can't see what you've got coming off the needles next (i've had a few set backs lately...sadly.)do you think i could knit the neighborly in malabrigo(for which i like to use a size 7 needle?)

-b

Anonymous said...

Yum, granola bars! Thanks for the idea. I followed suit, though made due with contents in my cupboard--steel cut oatmeal (adds interesting texture, but do not recommend), hazelnuts, dried figs, and completely forgot to add the sunflower seeds (so ate those separately). Added the butter too and now have a treat that tastes like to a cookie. Bonus!

Anonymous said...

made do, that is!

the nest said...

Sari! hooray that you're here!
Beth! to February: "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Thank goodness for turning the page. Yes, nothing wrong with chocolate, just not in my granola bar, please. ;)
I! they are yummy aren't they?

Sayu said...

ohhhh!! it looks so good! How did you read my mind? Sisters do that don't they? I actually dug up your cranberry bars recipe you wrote about. But I want to make these instead! xo

larissa said...

your granola bars look amazing and i love that you cook like i do - loads of additions and substitutions but it still turns out yummy.

Beth, size 7 needles would be fine for the neighborly if you wear a size small.

Alison said...

Yum!!...can't wait to make those granola bars. I did make an adaptation of the rigatoni {with not a lot of measuring and with what I had on hand—a mix of Italian and pork sausage, extra cheese, and (heresy I know) spaghetti instead of rigatoni}. It was delicious and was quickly declared admittance into our line-up of family comfort foods. So thanks for dinner last night! Thinking about it is making me hungry and I'm guessing the little bit of it that was left over will be wonderful for lunch today! So thanks, in advance, for lunch too!

lucy said...

I am I not celebrating the melting of piles of snow and the sprouting of something green underneath the snow?
happy wednesday.

renee ~ heirloom seasons said...

Happy March to you Annri! Yay, we all survived! The snow keeps coming here too, but in between there are many days that do seem to have spring in the air.
I would not want chocolate in my granola bars either! Actually I don't like chocolate in much of anything, but I suppose I am the only one with those feelings...

rebekka said...

Oh my goodness those look delicious!!!

britt said...

i love granola bars. i am sooooo going to have to try that sometime. Thanks.

t does wool said...

Happy March...and so glad things are melting...great bars...must try.

Helen said...

I LOVE the snowman's hair - nice touch!!