Week 17 Wednesday (4/30/14)

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:  Granola Bars

         Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/09/granola-bars/

I figured out that there are 321 calories per serving, if 24 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

Pre-chocolate granola

Heavenly Post-chocolate granola!  Yummy!

         I am so glad that I made these bars. They were easier than I thought they would be to create. I took them to school and had rave reviews. The outsides were a little crunchy but the insides were chewy. This was really the best of both worlds. Ree said to use a cookie sheet, which made them thin, but the mix did not quite cover the pan so they had small holes in them. This made then very fragile. Next time, I will make them in a 9 x 13 pan so they are thicker (like the store bought versions) and hold together better.  I liked the chocolate on one side. This is another item I have never made but now feel confident enough to create in the future.

      

Gabbin’ About Gratitude

         Today I realized how grateful I am for my relationship with my Aunt Ada. She is my Dad’s sister and one of my GodMothers. Aunt Ada is what I would call a tall, thin, classy woman. She has always carried herself with poise and grace. She has been in a wheel chair for some time but she still is classy.

         She has been instrumental in assisting me with our family history. Of course, she is the only living sibling of my father. She has outlived all of her immediate family and sometimes wonders why. She once asked me, “Why am I the only one left?” The question touched me deeply, as I noticed the deep sadness she was experiencing. To change the tone I answered, “You are here because I need you!  Aunt Ada, you know it’s all about me.” To that she laughed and said, “Well then, I’m glad to be with you.” 

         I love Aunt Ada deeply and am glad she is here in her 90’s. I pray she is with us for a long time.

Memory Musings

         The Sound of Music holds a special place in my heart. My mother loved the movie and I saw it many times in my childhood. My sisters and I used to sing together and we learned all of the songs from this special musical. We all loved the movie and singing so they songs fit the bill. The most important song of all is called Edelweiss. This was our Dad’s favorite and we sang it often. This has become a family favorite over the years. My four nieces and four nephews all grew up to love this musical, too. They even went so far as to learn the lines in the movie. They performed the songs for us when they were younger and brought great joy to their parents and grandparents.

         The best part is that the kids continue to love it. My great-nephew Nick now enjoys the new version of the musical. I love that this special story has survived three generations of our family.