Happy Bars (also known as) Fruit Bars

1.  I've been playing a bit with decreasing the amount of wheat and flour we've been eating at home. Whaddya call that? Faux Gluten-free?

2.  I've started restocking the pantry with bulk purchases again.

3.  I am on the hunt for foods to fill the lunch boxes for the work crew (David and the 3 oldest).
This recipe is going on the weekly list for packed lunches.

Combine those three endeavors and you'll see me scouring for pins to add to my virtual recipe boxes that will keep us thriving on that 50 pound bag of rolled oats that has taken over my kitchen shelves.

Of course, even with by pinning finger twitching, I pulled out my Better Homes and Garden cookbook that has been my trusty side-kick for my whole married life.  I got her for a gift at my wedding shower in college. Of all the cookbooks I've collected along the way, this one is still my first grab when I need a good base to go from.  I remembered these Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars from a while back and wanted to give them another try using my new experiments. 

They turned out great!  Pin-shmin.

I ground up some rolled oats in my food processor giving me some oat flour to replace the wheat flour in this recipe. The oat flour also did well in the biscuits I made for breakfast this morning, though I wouldn't be able to replace ALL the wheat flour with oat flour.

I cut the sugar in half for the oat mixture and completely omitted the sugar for the filling. I used prunes and the filling turned out *very * sweet all by itself. Of course, that opinion comes from someone that has been cutting out sugar for a long while, so take it for what it's worth. I'm planning to try out some other fruit fillings now that I have a good base to work with.

The bars were a hit, so I made a double batch of them again this morning. I decided to cut back on the sugar even more for the oat mixture.  I only put in 1/4 cup of brown sugar for a double batch.  *I* think they taste great, but the bars don't hold together well without that extra sugar.  These leaves these as a fork and spoon type of snack instead of a grab and go bar like they were meant to be. Still, not a bad trade for bit less sugar buzz.

Happy Bars
1 Cup oat flour (rolled oats ground fine in food processor)
1 cup quick-cooking or regular rolled oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda.  Cut in butter until mixture rembles coarse crumbs.  Reserve 1/2 cup of oat mixture.  Press remaining oat mixture into bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2 inch baking pan. Spread desired filling. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes until top is golden brown. Cool in pan on wired rack. Cut into bars.

Prune (or raisin) Filling:
In a medium saucepan combine 1/2 cup water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Add 1 cup diced prunes (or raisins - don't dice those ;) Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Today the girls and I had company, so we set out tea and "cake".  While we were getting things ready, one little girlie chimed out that we needed to get the Happy Bars ready.  Well, knowing these treats are healthy and yummy, that makes us all happy.

So, Happy Bars it is!

 

"You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth."

Psalm 65:9

Frugal and Fancy Affections

Big Fam Fun always gives cause for Frugality. 

 

Though I haven't written The Post Regarding Our New Family Enterprises, we've entered a season where Thrift Thrives and Hearts Survive!!  I'm no stranger to making a dollar stretch. It's one of my favorite things about being a Mom to Many. 

So, this spring, with birthdays and holidays and celebrations abounding, we're trying our hands at home made cards. 

We were invited to make the cards that would be presented to the families at our church's Baby Celebration this spring. I felt a little sad that we weren't able to contribute to the collective monetary gift for each family.  What a blessing to be able to, instead, create little keepsakes for the precious baby girls born to our church family this year! 

 

Now that we're getting the hang of it, we're rather liking this creative and frugal way to express our love and thoughts for others.

 When I see the price of store bought cards these days, I'm even more excited to pull out the scrapbooking supplies and lead my little art students along in some fun.  We peek in at pinterest for ideas but pretty soon, everyone is on their way with their own imagination.

  

Today we tucked away Nana's card collection with some of the blooming beauties from our yard. We're hoping they'll be a fragrant surprise when she opens her package for her birthday next week. :)

Nana'a favorite flowers wrapped up with some moistened towels on their way to sunny California!

Now we've found some great, inexpensive ways to shower some love and prayers on others.  If only  the ol' Postal Service was a bit more affordable!! I think they must use the most expensive horses they can find for that Pony Express.  :)

Baby Celebration!

Psalm 127

"Unless the LORD builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the LORD guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain. 

It is vain for you to rise up early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of painful labors;

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. 

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.  

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth. 

How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

They will not be ashamed

When they speak with their enemies in the gate."

 

This psalm is dear to our hearts. Again and again we have returned to the truth and promises here. As the Lord has worked in our lives and family, David and I have been challenged with the trust and faith we will place in the Lord regarding His sovereignty. 

 

Over the years He has slowly directed us to open our hearts to each way He wants to lead and direct our path. Gently whispering, lovingly chiding, firmly convicting, and, yes, sometimes sternly warning us when we are hurrying in the wrong direction. 

 

The Lord has pointed His hand of grace over our marriage, finances, library shelves, television and media preferences, education, and, yes, even our choices pertaining to fertility and babies.  I'll be honest. Opening our hearts to His control regarding the number of children He chooses to give has been a journey of joy mixed with fear, yet, always covered with comfort and hope. 

 

 

 Knowing that each baby created is a promise of His provision and work in our lives has been a powerful magnet drawing us to a mighty and holy God.

 

 

Strangely, as the Lord graced us with the courage to trust Him in this great calling, we often have been made to feel we are foolish, crazy, and even unloving by the very people that are trusting the Lord for great things in their own lives. I'll be honest, again. That hurts. 

 

It hurts enough that we've sometimes withdrawn and stay guarded until we know if someone is "safe" before we share our hearts and the truths the Lord has called us to walk in.  Finding a church family that supports and cherishes the gift of children, any and all children, has been a great challenge for us.

 

The past three years we've been growing and learning with a church family that continues to bless us in special ways. This year, we were amazed and overjoyed to join them in the first of what is sure to be a favorite event. A Baby Celebration! 

 

 

 

Imagine the joy in my heart as I heard and saw a group of dear friends celebrating the children in our midst and, especially, the FOUR baby girls born within the same month. 

 

 

 

 

 

How I delight to be walking among those who will honor the Lord by welcoming each child with the joy the Lord intended for their precious lives. Whether granted to a young family just beginning, a blended family, a family of many, or a young, unwed mother, the chorus of praises and rejoicing rang out loud and strong: 

"God, you have created these precious lives and because of that, you are great and greatly to be praised!!"

 

 

 

 

 

Truly, my eyes fill with tears even as I type, knowing this body of Christ calls me sister and bids me call them Home.

 

"...Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward."