I was supposed to get a lot done around here today.  I had high hopes and plans.  Sewing.  Cleaning.  Maybe a little cooking.  Maybe.  I was also supposed to go visit my parents.  And do a little tailoring on some slacks for my Dad.  I really had my day all planned.

Then I started getting emails from my dear friend, Susan.  Emails with links to recipes.  And I was hungry.  And I hadn’t been eating healthy much lately.  So these recipes were very appealing to me. 

Like these.  Apple Cinnamon Oat Squares.  I had to try them.  Now.  They were calling my name.

So I made them.  But they had to cook an hour.  Really?  An hour?  Did I mention I was hungry?  And Susan was relentless.  The emails kept coming with more.

So I decided to make this while I waited.  Black Bean Mango Quinoa Salad.  Never mind that I didn’t have any red or green peppers which the recipe called for.  My friend, Sally, who hates peppers of any kind, would have been very happy.  So I just left out the peppers and made the salad sans peppers.  It was very yummy.

The next email from Susan had a recipe for Roasted Garlic and White Bean Hummus.  Thankfully I was missing a few of the ingredients necessary for that one or I’d still be in the kitchen.   But those ingredients are now on my shopping list for this week.  I really wanted to try it today too, but not if it meant a trip to the store.

The Apple Cinnamon Oat Squares were not to die for.  But I’m sure that was my pantry’s fault.  The recipe called for Pink Lady apples.  I don’t even know what those are.  All I had were Granny Smiths.  So I just used them.  And I felt like the bars would be better a bit sweeter. 

So I did this.  And I declared them perfect.  And very, very healthy.

Don’t they look great?  Steel-cut oats, almond milk, pecans, raisins, vanilla, flaxseed and apples.  With a nice drizzle of agave nectar on top.  I gobbled them up.  The recipe says to freeze them and then microwave to warm in the morning for breakfast.  That’s if you don’t eat them all the night you make them.

There was also a recipe on this same site for Banana Mash Oatmeal.  It looked so good I already knew I wanted to fix it for tomorrow’s breakfast.  But I had just thrown away an overly ripe banana that would have been perfect for the recipe.  The last banana.  You won’t believe it.  I went through the trash.  In the garage trash can.  The banana was buried too deep to retrieve.  I still can’t believe I was going to pull it out and use it after it had been in the trash.  I told myself the peel would have protected it.  Perhaps it’s really good I didn’t find the banana.

Earlier today there was some excitement at our house.  I had just let Miss Kitty out and knew she was in the front yard.  Then I walked into the kitchen, looked out the back window and saw this:

But maybe you need a closer look?

Remember last summer when we had a fox visit us?  I wonder if this is a relative?  You can read about last year’s fox here.

He was very comfortable on our deck.  Too comfortable.  He didn’t even flinch as I took the pics through the window and Boo was right there too.  We were just feet away from him and he was not at all concerned.  I went straight out front and gathered Miss Kitty up and made her come back inside.  She might just have to get used to being inside for awhile.

Here are the direct links, courtesy of Susan, to the two recipes above:

Apple Cinnamon Oat Squares

Black Bean Mango Quinoa Salad

By the way, the last email from Susan has eight different links to recipes in it.  I haven’t clicked on a single one yet, but I’m very tempted.  I think she’s been playing on Pinterest.   It could be a very long night.

And when Mom called to see why I hadn’t come over?  I blamed Susan.  But my stomach thanks her.

Love you, Susan!

Hugs,
Barb