S'Mores Granola Bars

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Granola bars are my favorite grab and go snack and you really can't get any easier than this recipe. I love the Quaker Chewy S'mores Granola Bars, so I tweaked the recipe to be as s'mores like as possible. I used Kraft mini marshmallows, they taste like the marshmallows in Lucky Charms, or the kind that come in those little packets of hot cocoa, so they were perfect for these bars. The finished product was quite similar to the Quaker bars, but a bit chewier and more chocolaty tasting. Definitely a keeper. 
No bake S'mores Granola BarsAdapted From laurenslatest.com1/4 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
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping1/2 cup mini marshmallows, plus more for toppingMix together Rice Krispies, oats, 1/2 cup marshmallows, and mini chocolate chips (if you want them with less chocolate flavor, leave out the chips till the end). Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it starts to bubble. Reduce heat and cook for another two minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Remove from heat and pour over oat/rice mixture. Mix well ensuring that all ingredients are moistened. Line a small jelly roll pan (12x8x1) with aluminum foil.  Pour mixture into lined pan. Pack it in really tightly or the bars won't set and will fall apart when cooled.  Sprinkle the top with more chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Let cool, then cut into bars. Have a sweet day! 

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Wow.  It sure has been a long time since I've written.  I apologize to those of  you who were wondering what was going on.

The short story is I got sick.  But that really doesn't adequately explain everything.  It was more than an illness.  It was a change in life perspective.

After months of testing and visits with the neurologist and the stress of the bills.  Oh, the friggin' bills.  We discovered that I'm having seizures.  They're a type of seizure called a myoclonic seizure.  My muscles contract and release involuntarily.  Overall it's certainly not as debilitating as having grand mal seizures and I don't lose consciousness during the seizures.  But over time they do cause pain and fatigue.

What frustrates me is that only describes what is happening to my body.  It doesn't describe WHY it's happening and that's what is driving me bonkers.  It's helpful to have a name to describe it, but I want to cure it.  Why at the age of 45 did this suddenly develop?  What can I do to stop it?  Will it progress into something else? Apparently those are questions I won't receive the answers to.

For the time being I'm coping with it.  I try to get more sleep, because that reduces the frequency of the seizures.  I've added more fish to my diet, because that reduces the frequency of the seizures.  I've tried to reduce stress in my life, because that reduces the seizures.  I try to avoid certain types of fluorescent lighting, because that reduces the seizures.  I try to avoid certain types of tv shows, because that reduces the seizures.  I try to limit my time using computer screens, because that reduces the seizures.  But nothing STOPS the seizures.  I have good days and I have bad days.  And then I have the really bad days.

I began this blog years ago when the baby girl was literally a baby.  She was an infant and because of the way we parent I found I had some time on my hands to fill.  While she napped in the family bed I needed to be close by in case she needed me and to monitor her for safety purposes.  The laptop was right there with me and I decided to write a blog.  Over the years that became my naptime activity.  It was a quiet activity and it also connected me with other people.  I'm still amazed at the number of people who find old posts and ask questions and leave comments.

But the baby girl isn't a baby.  In fact in just a few weeks that baby will be 5 years old.  She's working on penmanship, basic arithmetic, and learning to read.  She doesn't nap.  :)  So I lost that writing time and since I've gotten sick I re-evaluated how I choose to spend my time.  I re-evaluated what is important to me.  Many activities were bumped down the list and several got kicked to the curb.  What is important is spending time with my children and with my husband.    Since writing the blog doesn't involve spending time with my children and my husband and since it also involves screen time it really doesn't make it to the top of my list these days.

I can't say I'll stop writing forever.  I do still try to answer questions and do still try to publish comments.  I'll leave the blog up (perhaps as long as blogger will permit) because people are still finding it and letting me know that at least some of the content is helpful to them.

{DIY Valentine's Decor...Crochet Heart Garland}

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Hi friends! I hope you've had a fabulous week! Things have been pretty quiet on the blog the last few days, but I'm back to share a super cute garland I made for our mantle!
 I just love how it came together!  I tried A LOT of heart tutorials before finding one that I really liked. This was the clear winner. You can find it HERE.  I used a mix of traditional Valentine's Day colors and threw in some non traditional colors too like gray and turquoise. I also used two different sizes of hearts in the garland to mix things up a bit. Each heart is stitched onto the garland at two points making sure they are secure. I've seen some garlands that just have hearts strung on a length of yarn, but I like this method better. You can find the tutorial for the chain HERE.  I plan on using this sweet thing for years to come!{Hearts On A Chain Crochet Heart Garland}
Love it, but don't' want to make your own? Well you're in luck because I have 10 listed in the shop! Hurry and snag one before they're gone!
Happy stitching friends!

Coffee Pudding- A Guest Post for Sumanarthy's Kitchen

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           "ANOTHER FRESH NEW YEAR IS HERE..
         ANOTHER YEAR TO LIVE..
         TO BANISH WORRY,DOUBT & FEAR,
         TO LOVE ,LAUGH & TO GIVE"

How fast time flies off and we have crossed yet another important year in our lives.Many of you must have taken up resolutions and few might have started applying your new year resolutions too.Hope all your resolutions work wonders in your life.To me,I usually don't take up any resolutions as I don't usually amend them,though sometimes may take it.Let this new year be the one,where all your dreams come true,so with a joyful heart,put a start to this year anew.Wishing you n your family a very Happy & Prosperous New Year 2013 !!



My new year starts with a guest post for Suman.When Suman(Arthy ) @ Sumanarthy's Kitchen asked me to do a guest post for her,I was a bit busy then with Christmas preparations at home.But she was kind enough to give me enough time to send her a recipe. Suman has been an important part of my space since 2 months and we had joined hands in blogging then.The best part of her space is that she has a vast collection of recipes ranging from the simple ones to the complex ones.She has also brought out many wonderful bloggers as her guest in her space and this time,I got a chance too.All Thanks to you,Arthy.


So,friends as always I say-Love to share my happiness with a sweet/dessert and so today's recipe is a simple coffee pudding that I prepared for Christmas lunch.It's a simple yet smooth pudding that you would love to have anytime & can be prepared without much efforts.My kids loved it a lot,do give this a try if you are looking for a quick fix dessert for  any occasions.And check out the detailed recipe @ Sumanarthy's kitchen  !!

Ghee Roast Dosa

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Ghee roast dosa is one of the best served dosa in restaurants and in popular demand always,but the one with the least efforts too.You just have to get the correct consistency of the batter and  a big dosa tawa/griddle or a good non stick pan.At home,the stove top burners are small compared to the hotel ones.But still,you can recreate the smaller version of the big crisp dosas and enjoy these hot crisp dosas with the aroma of ghee.My kids love this dosa a lot and always becomes an easy evening snack for them.They just roll it and pop it up in their mouth.Check this out for your little ones !!


Ingredients
dosa batter 1 cup(refer notes)
ghee as required



Method

• Mix the batter with a ladle.Add water to dilute the batter to very thin pouring consistency.Adjust salt.
• Heat a non stick pan /griddle on medium high and when the pan/griddle  is hot ,pour a ladle of batter and start spreading out the batter with the back of the ladle moving outwards and thinning it out as much as possible reacing towards the rim.
• Wait till the bubbles are formed and burst, there is light browning at the bottom and the sides start to give up,take a tsp of ghee and smear on the sides so that it becomes easier to flip the sides and then spread a thin layer of ghee on the inside too.
• Flip the other side,if you wish can add ghee on this side too,but I usually avoid that as it just sticks to the serving plate.Roll the crispier side outside and serve hot with  tomato chutney or coconut chutney or peanut chutney !!!

NOTES
* To prepare dosa batter- Soak a cup of raw rice /long enriched rice & whole urad dal/uzhunnu 1/2 cup in water for about 3-4 hours.Grind the rice and urad dal separately to a smooth batter.Add some cooked rice about 2tbsp and grind it smooth.Mix the batter together,add salt.Leave to ferment for 6-7 hours in summers and 10-12 hours in winters.Whenever the batter is fermented,Refrigerate covered until use.(in winters,keep the batter in the oven or any closed place so that it aidsin fermenting.)
* I usually use home made ghee,but you can use store brought too !!!

S'Mores Granola Bars

To contact us Click HERE

Granola bars are my favorite grab and go snack and you really can't get any easier than this recipe. I love the Quaker Chewy S'mores Granola Bars, so I tweaked the recipe to be as s'mores like as possible. I used Kraft mini marshmallows, they taste like the marshmallows in Lucky Charms, or the kind that come in those little packets of hot cocoa, so they were perfect for these bars. The finished product was quite similar to the Quaker bars, but a bit chewier and more chocolaty tasting. Definitely a keeper. 
No bake S'mores Granola BarsAdapted From laurenslatest.com1/4 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
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping1/2 cup mini marshmallows, plus more for toppingMix together Rice Krispies, oats, 1/2 cup marshmallows, and mini chocolate chips (if you want them with less chocolate flavor, leave out the chips till the end). Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it starts to bubble. Reduce heat and cook for another two minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Remove from heat and pour over oat/rice mixture. Mix well ensuring that all ingredients are moistened. Line a small jelly roll pan (12x8x1) with aluminum foil.  Pour mixture into lined pan. Pack it in really tightly or the bars won't set and will fall apart when cooled.  Sprinkle the top with more chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Let cool, then cut into bars. Have a sweet day! 

{DIY Valentine's Decor...Crochet Heart Garland}

To contact us Click HERE
Hi friends! I hope you've had a fabulous week! Things have been pretty quiet on the blog the last few days, but I'm back to share a super cute garland I made for our mantle!
 I just love how it came together!  I tried A LOT of heart tutorials before finding one that I really liked. This was the clear winner. You can find it HERE.  I used a mix of traditional Valentine's Day colors and threw in some non traditional colors too like gray and turquoise. I also used two different sizes of hearts in the garland to mix things up a bit. Each heart is stitched onto the garland at two points making sure they are secure. I've seen some garlands that just have hearts strung on a length of yarn, but I like this method better. You can find the tutorial for the chain HERE.  I plan on using this sweet thing for years to come!{Hearts On A Chain Crochet Heart Garland}
Love it, but don't' want to make your own? Well you're in luck because I have 10 listed in the shop! Hurry and snag one before they're gone!
Happy stitching friends!