Tasty Homemade Nut Free Granola Bars

It is hard to find nut free (or nut facility warning free) granola bars.  I used to love Cliff and Luna bars, especially for busy mornings or while hiking.  Now that we have a severely nut allergic daughter, I don't eat those anymore.  I also try to avoid single use packaging.

So I was thrilled when the lovely chefs at our local elementary school made this recipe for nut free granola bars, and they are delicious.  Seriously.  I could eat them all day.  Recently, they powered me up Elmore mountain with 100 plus kids.

Speaking of kids, these bars are sure to be loved by your children, on hikes, in lunches, for after school snacks, whatever.  Enjoy!

Prep time:  15 minutes
Cook time:  25-30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins, or any dried fruit
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (equal amount of applesauce or half applesauce half oil can be used)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet or 9 by 13 inch baking pan with aluminium foil or parchment paper.  Spray with vegetable oil spray.

2.  In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, raisins, wheat germ, salt, and cinnamon.  In a smaller bowl, blend oil (or applesauce), syrup, egg, vanilla.  Pour into flour mixture.  Mix by hand until the liquid is evenly distributed.  Press evenly into the prepared baking pan.

3.  Bake 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden.  Cool completely in pan before turning out onto a cutting board and cutting into bars.

Makes approximately 20 bars.  Yum!

Thanks to Liz Sharf for this tasty recipe.

A New Course from Northwest Earth Institute: A World of Health: Connecting People, Place, and Planet!

(This is a guest post about an interesting course to help all of us live healthier lives, from the Northwest Earth Institute.  This would be a great course to do with a mama group, a book club, or circle of friends.) 

Northwest Earth Institute, a Portland – based sustainability education and action nonprofit is excited to announce our new course, A World of Health: Connecting People, Place, and Planet! We create and distribute a series of nine small-group discussion guides on a variety of current topics. Our newest discussion based program examines the connections between our personal health and the health of our natural and physical environments, and how we can sustain both. The curriculum consists of six sessions, including video, reading, an action plan, and group discussion questions. The overall goal of the curriculum is to increase awareness of the connections between health and the environment and inspire people to take actions that promote overall good health.

In the past two weeks more than 500 participants have pre-ordered the A World of Health curriculum, and an estimated 5,000 are expected to participate over the coming year. The curriculum is part of an on-going effort by NWEI to educate and inspire people to make small lifestyle changes that have a long-term, positive benefit for themselves and the planet. Since its launch in 1993, more than 125,000 people in all 50 states have participated in NWEI discussion courses. 

“Our goal with this curriculum is to help people explore the link between personal and environmental health and provide individuals with inspiration and ideas to help them live healthier lives,” said Mike Mercer, executive director, Northwest Earth Institute. The expectation is that by making small changes in their daily lives, people will improve their personal health and also –their impact on the environment which sustains us.”

With the new A World of Health curriculum, NWEI aims to provide a wide range of actions participants can take to improve their personal health, and in turn, reduce their ecological footprint. While the course is not prescriptive in nature these are a few of the actions that come up for consideration:

· Use a reusable bag to haul groceries—plastic bags aren’t biodegradable and, when discarded, become problematic for people and wildlife alike. And shop smart—the stuff in the bag has a larger impact than the bag itself.

· Examine your food products for packaging that contains bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with harmful health consequences.

· Map the accessibility of your neighborhood via walking and biking to encourage to a healthier lifestyle while also reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

· Consider the broader health impacts brought about by a consumer-based culture.

· Make your own household cleaners. They cost much less, are just as effective and are a safer alternative to relying on harsh, toxic commercial products. Effective cleaning products can be made with borax, washing soda, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, club soda, cooking oil and lemons. On their own or combined together, you can make scouring powder, furniture polish, an all-purpose cleaner and more!
The Northwest Earth Institute is recognized as a national leader in the development of innovative programs that empower individuals and organizations to transform culture toward a sustainable and enriching future. Today, NWEI offers nine study guides for small groups. These self-guided discussion courses are offered in workplaces, universities, faith centers, neighborhoods, community centers, and individuals throughout North America. Through discussion with others, each program encourages participants to explore values and  attitudes, and then take action on behalf of the planet. Check out our other course books and blog at www.nwei.org!

3 Fun, Free (or almost free) Fall Activities

I'm always on the prowl for fun things to do with my 3 and 5 year old girls on the weekend.  Usually, their dad is off working, and I am solo parenting.  Sometimes we just relax at home and in the yard-- but when the day is beautiful, and the fall is so fleeting, it is fun to venture out and take part in some community activities.   Here are a few that have gotten my children outside and me feeling not so isolated and home bound (because I know February and sicknesses will be here all too soon).

1.  Visit your local farm for apple and pear picking.  The season is almost over around here!  Apple picking is a great and easy way to connect children to their food.  It also shows them the work that goes into bringing them local produce.  Look for small organic family farms to support for apple picking.  You'll pay only for your apples, and you can stock up and make some applesauce (great for school lunches) that will last you for awhile.

2.  Visit local fall craft fairs.  Usually every community boasts some sort of autumn craft or art show-- or your neighboring town might have one going on.  Visiting these exposes your child to art and connects her to the local community.  Seeing art made by hand, and meeting the people who actually make it, gives children a sense of place and of their potential future.

3.  Visit your local farm or farmer's market, or farm stand, to pick out pumpkins.  Of course, growing them yourself is better.  But all my pumpkin seeds did was grow vines.  We'll head to a local farm that sells Vermont products.  We buy our maple syrup there in bulk, and frequent maple creamees (maple infused soft serve ice cream-- so tasty!).  And we also buy our pumpkins there.  They have a huge selection, and the girls love looking through all the shapes and sizes to pick the one they want.

What are  your favorite weekend fall activities?  Today we are headed our neighbors harvest festival.  I've got local mashed potatoes covered with melted Vermont cheddar on top as my potluck dish.  Yum!  Enjoy this lovely and fleeting season.