{Carrot, Cranberry, and Walnut} Snacking Cake

When my grandma was taking meal requests (for when Rebekah was born) I immediately asked for this and bless her, she made me an entire 9x13 pan. And I ate it all. By myself. I live with some challenged people, obviously, because they don't like this.

It's called Snacking Cake, but to me, that does NOT do it justice.  Look at everything in it!  Surely, there is a better name. But snacking cake it was, snacking cake it will remain. I just added a little to the beginning to help everyone know how wonderful this is ... since you need to know. 

 

Reasons why you'll like this:

It's chock full of texture! (cranberries, raisins, and walnuts)!  

Its got the bright and fresh addition of orange juice. 

It's moist, thanks to the shredded carrots and apples. 

It's dense, my favorite texture, but not dry (see above) and sustaining since there is two cups of quick oats. 

In a nutshell, it tastes incredible but is still really healthy!

Should I tackle this subject of healthy?  I think I will ... Prep for my persuasive essay on dieting. 

In this season where gluttony can be justified, there is a big push for healthy options.  It is important to take care of our bodies, no question, but I feel this idea of healthy can be all consuming.  It gets in our heads.  We become obsessed with making the healthiest decisions all the time and any slip up leads to guilt and disappointment.  Also, we become "better" when we are healthy. But I think there is a difference between feeling better physically and feeling better about ourselves mentally. Like, I feel good about myself when I buckle down and run in 40 degree weather.  My body just feels better. However, I don't feel better about myself compared to other people because I ran.  I don't think it is bad to run or to stay in shape, I do think it is bad when it becomes something a person has to do to feel good about themselves.  

More often than not, I see the idea of healthy being chosen not because a person wants to be healthy, but because they want to be skinny. 

They diet not so that they can enjoy their grand kids or lower their blood pressure, but because they want to fit in with the runway models. Granted, I'm not exposed to the older generation, so healthy is different based in your age. But the prevalent feeling is "I'm not pretty enough, let's lose some weight."  

That's not healthy!  That's skinny - and there is a big difference.  That's my biggest deal with dieting; it's goal is usually skinny, not healthy. 

This season is full of large meals and lots of food. There are all sorts of "stay skinny" plans and tips, but to me, that takes the joy out of Thanksgiving. Enjoy your pie, but enjoy your veggies and snacking cake, too. Moderation is great, but a good mindset is best.  

Snacking Cake

Recipe Source: Recipe from my Grandma
Yield: 16-24 servings
 

2 cups flour 

2 cups quick oats 

1-1/2 cups sugar 

2-3/4 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/8 teaspoon salt 

3 eggs 

1 cup orange juice 

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted *

2 medium carrots, shredded 

2 medium apples, peeled and shredded 

1 cup each; dried cranberries, raisins, and walnuts 

Combine first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, orange juice, and coconut oil together. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until combined. Fold in carrots, apples, cranberries, raisins and walnuts. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. 

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

* Do not worry about there being any coconut flavor!  Coconut oil is just a healthier oil option that really doesn't taste like coconut. Also, I know some readers do not have coconut oil, so you can sub vegetable oil if desired. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hazelnut Larabars

I don't like raisins. 

Just to clarify, I don't like them, but I don't hate them. I'll eat them occasionally in breads and cookies but not by themselves. Give me almonds or chocolate chips any day. But not raisins.  I've never liked them, ever since I was a kid. And although I'll joke it's because of raisin cookies when I thought they were chocolate chip, I don't think that was it. 

I need to start a raisin free diet. There's so many other "_____ free" diets, surely that would fit right in.  Hmm ...

(Some of my friends are canceling their subscriptions right now)

Taste, texture, flavor, I don't know, I just don't like them.  I'm sorry!  I also don't like beef jerky. Or flat, crispy cookies. With raisins in them. I feel like I'm going in a circle ... 

Moving on. 

I've been needing a good pick me up and (this is terribly ironic) raisins are supposed to be great for that.  I've made this with both dates and raisins and I like the dates better, but they're more expensive and we didn't have any when I made these.  So these have raisins. And they're good.  (How did that taste coming out of my mouth?  *like raisins*  Sorry, I couldn't resist)  Most Larabar recipes call for more than nuts than fruit, but I like the softer texture I get from having more fruit, although they don't travel as well. So, if you're in the mood, up the hazelnuts and the Larabars will be stiffer and easier to hold.  The cocoa powder, peanut butter, and hazelnuts disguise the raisin flavor and it tastes like chocolate Larabars. There is texture from the oats and nuttiness from the peanut butter and the hazelnuts. A flavor and texture combo that even a raisin free person like me will enjoy. 
 

 

Anyway, back to needing a pick me up. I've been sick this week and yesterday, I decided I was going to do nothing but lay around and stalk Pinterest.  After a week of classes, football games, all day volleyball matches, running, and lots of driving, it was nice to just sit the whole day (I did get piano and lab reports in, though, the whole day was not completely wasted ... after several hours on Pinterest:)  It did my head and stomach a world of good. Hopefully, I'm all rested and set, because the week is here and nothing is slowing down any time soon. 

 

Right now, my favorite pick me up is a warm muffin or slice of sweet bread with a cup of tea or coffee.  But these work pretty well, too:)  What's your favorite pick me up? 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hazelnut Larabars 

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life

Yield: 4 bars

1 cup raisins

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon water 

1 tablespoon honey 

1/4 cup oats, 

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

1/3 cup hazelnuts 

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (opt)

Cover raisins with water and let soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain and add to food processor (I used my Ninja)  Add water, honey, and peanut butter.  Purée until pretty smooth. Add oats, cocoa powder, and hazelnuts. Pulse until hazelnuts are finely ground or teaches desired consistency. It will be thick. Stir in chocolate chips, if desired. Spread mixture on Saran Wrap and cut into 4 bars. Store on freezer or refrigerator.

This is the fudgy, brownie like counterpart to these Larabars:

Blueberry Larabars



Apple Raisin Larabars


 

Happy Monday! 

~Mary Frances 

Apple Raisin Larabars

This weekend has been pretty crazy. 

Saturday was Field Day for the Hunter's Safety Class.  I was NOT happy about it.  Hunting isn't my passion and now I had to read this 200 page book about it and spend 7 hours outside learning about guns and hunting?  What!  I don't hunt and now you want me to go expose myself to the whole world?  Yes, embarrassing as it is, that's why I did not want to do this.  So Friday night, at 9:30, I made Dad come and show me how to load a gun, because I was not going to be the dummy who didn't know how to. 

What is so ridiculous is that the whole reason people take this class is because they want to learn how to.  Its not a test on your already acquired skills, its designed to teach and help you.   I cannot stand feeling unprepared and I know that is why I was nervous - I didn't know what to expect and was not ready to adopt the "go with the flow" attitude.  But I enjoyed it.  Let's just say the instructors probably wouldn't have put me and my brothers together based on shooting accuracy, but it was a fun day.  It didn't drag because the instructors were passionate about what they were teaching and we got to trek over fields, shoot every type of gun possible and practice archery. 

I was prepared, just in case I didn't like the field day, I would at least have a really good snack.  Wasn't necessary, but hit the spot anyway!

Okay, and after that, I got to go watch Gracie qualify for Westerns!  Regionals was in Wichita and now she is going to compete with the best gymnasts of her level in the west coast.  Pretty cool, huh?  I was thrilled to finally get to see her compete.  Then we stayed up all night (well, part of the morning too: /) talking, doing . . . stuff, and having a blast.  I forget how much I miss her until we get together and then one night just isn't enough.  I love seeing her and she is way more energizing than any homemade Larabar.  She has to be!   

My grandma's sister dehydrates apples and gives them to us every Christmas so we have bags if them, but store bought should work just fine. Larabars traditionally use dates, but raisins work well with apples and are cheaper. I love it when your wallet is happy and so us your tummy. Fruit is so sweet naturally and these are crazy good. Eh, they might be kinda fallish, but we don't really have to go there. The base is in the raisins and almonds, but the oats add body and chewiness while the apples and cinnamon meld it all together. There are a bazillion jillion chocolate Larabar recipes out there, so I decided to try something different and was really pleased with the result.  

 So there was my weekend!  Guns, gymnasts and granola-ish larabars!  (Sorry, I just had to use the "g" theme!)

Apple Raisin Larabars

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life

Yield: 4-5 large bars

1/4 cup old fashioned oats (use certified gluten free oats to make this gluten free)

3 oz. almonds

3 oz. dried applies

3 oz. raisins

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

dash of nutmeg and allspice (optional)

Cover raisins and apples in water for a couple minutes.  Grind oats and almonds in a food processor until fine.  Drain apples and raisins and add to oats and almonds. Add cinnamon, (and nutmeg and allspice, if desired) and process until mixture pulls into a ball.  Add water by teaspoon if necessary (in case your fruit was really dry.)