My husband and I are big on snack bars, they're on our grocery list every week. We simply can't get enough of them (although our budget can). Most boxes only come with 4-6 bars. What about the other days of the week?! We usually end up buying more than one box just to make them last between the two of us food-lovers. I have been wanting to make my own granola bars for quite some time now, and I'd say our first attempt came out pretty great! Our baked bars consist of oats, almonds, flaxseeds, chia, millet, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, brown rice cacao crisps, raw honey, vanilla extract, pure maple syrup and of course, chocolate-peanut butter drizzle. Now Let's Get Baking Prep time: 20 minutes Bake time: 20-25 minutes Ingredients For the granola: 1 ½ c.gluten free oats 1 c. almond slivers 1/8 c. raw whole golden flaxseed 1/8 c. chia seed 1/4 c. millet 1/4 c. roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds 1/2 c. dried cranberries 1 ½ c. gluten free brown rice cacao crisps 1/2 c. raw honey 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 c.pure maple syrup For the drizzle: 1/4 c. peanut butter 1/4 c. dark chocolate chips Preheat oven to 325' F Spread oats and almonds onto a jelly roll pan and toast in oven for 15 minutes, shaking pan occasionally. You will know when they are ready when the oats are a light golden color and you begin to smell a delicious, subtle, nutty aroma. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine honey, vanilla & maple syrup. Bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the toasted oats and almonds with the remaining dry ingredients. Gradually stir in the heated syrup. Scoop the granola mixture onto a lightly-greased jelly roll pan. (I use coconut oil for greasing rather than shortening). This next step is important in order for your granola to stay together and not be as crumbly (yes, it will still crumble a little but not as much. However, you can skip this step if you you're fine with crumbly granola clusters rather than bars). Place a sheet of parchment paper over top of granola. Using a cutting board (or a cookbook, tablet, or even your hands), press down firmly so as to pack the granola in tight. Be sure to distribute your weight evenly across the entire pan. Remove board and paper, and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Once the granola is golden brown, remove from oven and allow to cool in pan completely. Once granola has cooled, begin preparing the drizzle. In a double boiler, melt chocolate and peanut butter together until creamy. Drizzle over bars. Cut into squares and enjoy!
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As we grow and age in body and mind, so do our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. For some of us, we are granted the opportunity to help support them as they age, just as they supported us in our youth. In recent studies over the past few years, we are learning that some of the inventions of the past century have been doing more harm to our bodies than good. This includes some synthetic ingredients as well as childhood vaccinations. Due to the toxins found within these, we have an increasingly higher disease rate in the U.S. than ever before. While research has shown that many childhood cases of autism have been linked to such incidents, there is likewise a growing rate of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). In the article, "Therapeutic Use of Self": The Concept of "Action and Reaction" in Dementia Care, the Crisis Prevention Institution (CPI) tells us, “There is tremendous benefit to understanding a simple concept which is "action and reaction" as it relates to interacting with someone who has Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). This concept needs to be fully comprehended and acknowledged by all those who interact with those with ADRD in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes.” What the CPI refers to as the “therapeutic use of self,” I believe can be summed up in one simple term; patience. It is easy to lose patience with someone suffering ADRD, as you remember how easy it was to communicate with them over the years. The practice of therapeutic use of self reminds us to be patient and respectful. Put yourself in their shoes, they are going through more frustration than you could possibly imagine. Being patient and holding simple “action and reaction” conversations with them will help them to stay in the preset rather than getting lost in the whirlwind of memories and information over-loading their mind. During my years working in the nursing home, I interacted with many residents suffering from Alzheimer's or a related dementia. The best way I knew how to ease their anxiety and bring them to the present moment was to sit with them and converse. To let them tell me their story again and again, to make them feel appreciated. Many of these residents no longer had families that would visit, so more than anything they were seeking a friend. They may not have remembered me from one day to the next, but for that one conversation a day, I knew I was bringing them a sense of peace, relief and happiness. All it took was a little patience. Check out:
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