Re-energized Energy Bites {Recipe}

Re-Energized NEW Energy Bite Recipe.

We love energy bites.. well, everyone but my son..

I've made them so so many times, and tweaked a few things every time... due to shortage of ingredients, or swapping out different ones.. like pecan or almond meal for flax seed meal, because I was all out and needed energy bites ASAP! And I've also changed the way I followed the traditional Pinterest recipe way. I didn't refrigerate them before I rolled them as suggested by all the energy bite recipes out there. I love the way this batch turned out, so I wanted to post about it so I never forget how I did it.

I always have a lot of bulk dry goods on hand.

For this recipe .. I added dry milk .. During my childhood, my Mom and I used to make peanut butter balls. The ingredients for those were pb, dry milk, honey and oats, equally yum. Even better in the energy bites.

And a variety of chips I've played with 

Below I have dark choc chips, white, mini, semi- sweet and peanut butter 

I added 1/2 the amount of suggested chips and divided them into peanut butter and mini semi-sweet.

I wrote everything down that I was doing.. so here goes.

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 cup pecan meal

1/4 cup flax seed meal

1/4 cup pb chips

1/4 cup mini semi sweet chips

a little under 1/4 cup red mini m&ms

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup toasted coconut flakes

1/3 cup honey *plus more at end

1/4 cup dry milk

mix all ingredients in large bowl, drizzle more honey over mixture after about 1/2 way mixed. Mix again. Immediately roll into small 1/2 inch balls - I love all things mini.. so I made the bites extra cute and small. 

I stored them between wax paper sheets in an airtight container.

They are so yummy and crunchy.

Some batches of my previous energy bites had been more on the dry side. These are moist and crunchy and so so good. 

Recipes, Eating, Cooking, Freezing Temps...

Well, 2015.. 

I started with cookies, what could be wrong with that?

I always make these pistachio cookies. 

They're my and my husband's favorites

 usually gone in a few days.

I am organizing and throwing things out like crazy.

This pic is so blurry, but I made a little coffee station last weekend, and re-organized and wiped down a few cabinets, 

We tried a new spin on pizza last weekend. 

The Pioneer Woman's Taco Pizza.

It is so easy and yummy.. and Meat-LESS which was even better. 

If you follow me via Pinterest @jlmmomma.. I have it under my "pizza" board.

Sister went back to school, and I really missed and enjoyed my one on one time with my little mister.

He is totally hysterical lately... the way his little toddler voice asks me questions, and how he plays independently A LOT and I just watch and thank the Lord that he is such a sweet blessing. We have our days, our tantrums, our battles of breaking his love of NOT sleeping and ridiculous baby bottles.. but all in all he is pretty easy going and good most of the time.

Since its been FREEEEEEZING

Im trying to eat healthier, but it certainly doesnt help when its 0 degrees out and all I am doing is baking and cooking non-stop. I love it though... 

My new breakfast favorite is Plain Greek Yogurt, a few scoops of Strawberry Jam - so so good. Sometimes I throw in a little homemade granola, sometimes not. 

Then when I eat 15 cookies.. I can say, "well, at least I ate a healthy breakfast?!" -- yea sure.

They really missed each other this week.

She came home and was so sweet to her brother.

He was excited every day to wait for the bus, and was getting used to her being gone all day all over again.

Im trying to get back into the swing of things with lunches... 

I keep asking her if she'd like to buy, but she really really loves how I make her lunches every day. 

And if that makes her happy, then I am happy to do it. 

I feel like it is last year all over again. These temps are not only freezing, but its been windy, so blowing AND freezing snow.

Which brings me to more comfort cooking again...

My Italian Grandmother's Sauce

It truly turns out different every time.

And its all about tasting and eye balling as you add spices

Sauce

2-3 cans puree

4-5 big cloves of garlic

1 can tomato paste

1/2 large onion chopped 

basil

fresh parsley

oregano

salt and pepper 

1-2 green peppers (take out seeds and try to keep the pepper WHOLE)

1. sautee garlic and onions in olive oil

2. add paste and cook while mixing

3. add cans of puree

4. add spices and pepper and simmer.

5. Add meatballs 

6. cover and simmer on low for 2-3 hours or until meatballs are done.

7. take green peppers out and 1 cup of sauce. Blend.

Return the mixture to the sauce. Cook for an additional 1/2 hour. 

taste and add sugar if needed to balance out the acidity.

Meatballs 

1-2 lbs ground beef

1-2 eggs

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

1/4 -1/3 cup of the cooked sauce 

salt and pepper 

Mix all ingredients gently. Do not overmix.

They should be gummy... 

form meatballs and drop into the simmering sauce.

I break my meatballs up, but you can have them just like this (below)

This sauce is an art. Like I said I dont always make an amazing batch.. We froze a bunch which I love to use for other recipes, stuffed shells, lasagna, 

And every batch turns out a little different every time. 

This one was extra yummy.

Yummy and complete meal.

Plus plenty of leftovers.. bonus

Moving on to more cooking....and eating

Earl Grey and Cardamom Pancakes 

pancake mix - whole wheat, buttermilk, anything works

almond extract 

early grey tea 

cardamom

butter 

coconut oil

Mix all ingredients, fry them in coconut oil, butter them and I added my Aunt's yummy strawberry jam.