Meatless March Day #19: Raisin Nut Balls

DAY 19!

We have been talking a bit more about the difficulty of handling the expectations from others with this way of eating and that is what I may struggle with a bit. I never want anyone to feel like I don't appreciate food they have prepared for us and in my southern upbringing, that is kind of what I have been taught.  My lovely mother asked me today if we would be eating ham and pork on Sunday(Easter) or if we still "can't do that".  I told her that no and that we were choosing not to eat meat still. I am bringing lots of food to Easter dinner, so there will be lots to eat, but from the sounds of it, we may only be eating the foods we bring, and that seems so rude to me!  So anyway, that is a bit of a struggle.

I can't wait to write our 30 day review, by the way!! :)

Anyway, on Friday, day 19.  We ate leftovers for dinner!  But, I did make some Raisin Nut Balls for snacks, so here is that recipe.

Raisin Nut Balls

3/4 cup oats
2 cups raisins
2 cups walnuts
3/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Pulse the oats in the food processor until ground. Add all other ingredients and blend until a batter forms. Roll into 1" balls and refrigerate.  They will firm up a little more in the fridge.

These are a favorite in our house too!!  I used to flatten them out to make bars, but really like the balls better I think.  :)  Enjoy!

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Meatless March Day #17: Minestrone & Energy Bars

Tonight for dinner we had a very favorite of ours Crockpot Minestrone.  The recipe is on Day #1.  I actually just pulled it out of the freezer and let it sit in warm water in the sink for a bit to thaw some and dumped it in the pot on Med/Low until it was hot all the way through!  Super easy! Super healthy! Super Yummy! :)

But here is one of my family's very favorite snacks that I took about 5-10 minutes out of my day to make!!

Kid's Energy Bars

Ingredients:
2 cups natural peanut or almond butter (1 like to do a cup of each)
1 1/3 cup of honey (raw is best)
1 1/3 cut of protein powder or wheat germ or ground oats or chia seeds flax seed meal or any combination you like.  The idea is powdery and lots of fiber and protein.
4 cups of cereal - something flax, look for very crunchy high fiber-at least 4 g per serving
Sprinkle of semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan)

1. Melt  peanut butter and honey in a pot over the stove.  Remove from heat and stir in powder and then cereal. 

2.  Line a 9x11 brownie pan with wax paper and spray with nonstick spray.  Pour the goopy mixture in the pan and spread evenly.

3.  Add a sprinkling of chocolate chips and press into the batter.  Refrigerate for a couple hours. Makes 48 bars!  Remove from pan, picking up by the wax paper. Cut with a pizza cutter after they firm up and wrap individually with plastic wrap for portion control.

They are very yummy and a great snack but not low calorie! So, show some restraint.  :)

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