Caramel S'more Nut Bars

This past Sunday was one of my friend's birthday and I FORGOT to tell her happy birthday.

Now, being the HUGE birthday person that I am, this is very unusual for me. So, in the effort to redeem my belated "Happy Birthday", I made these Caramel S'more Bars for her...while asking for her forgiveness :)

I had a feeling that these were going to be good, but whoa. 

You could probably receive forgiveness for ANYTHING if you brought these bars with you while asking.

Caramel+Chocolate+Nuts+Marshmallows+Graham Cracker Crust = Forgiven

Make these! So delicious.

Caramel S'more Nut Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups honey flavored graham cracker crumbs
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 13 jumbo marshmallows, quartered
• 1 1/2 cups salted peanuts
• 36 vanilla caramels, unwrapped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Butter a 13x9 baking dish.
3. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and butter together until thoroughly combined.
4. Press graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
5. Bake crust for 15 minutes.
6. While crust is baking, place chocolate chips in a medium, heatproof bowl. Drizzle honey over the top of chocolate chips.
7. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of heavy whipping cream over medium heat until barely boiling.
8. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Once chocolate starts to melt, whisk until completely smooth.
9. Fold 1/2 cup peanuts and marshmallows into chocolate. Pour over crust.
10. Place vanilla caramels and remaining 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream in saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir until caramels are completely melted and smooth.
11. Stir 1 cup peanuts into caramel.
12. Pour over chocolate layer.
13. Cover baking dish with foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or freeze for 2 hours.
14. Cut into bars and serve!
15. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

The Munchies

I'm not a big snacker.

My daily eating routine normally consists of a big breakfast, a light lunch, a substantial dinner, and a bowl of ice cream.

However, whenever I am either training for a race or have just ramped up my activity levels (ex: being on my feet at work as opposed to siting at a desk all day) I find myself seeking out snacks everywhere I go!

So instead of grabbing a Clif bar at the grocery store while shopping (I pay for these, don't worry), I have started to pack my OWN goodies to tote around with me, so I never find myself scavenging for a snack while out and about (genius...I know).

Or worse, don't eat anything. 

You don't want to see me starving. It can get ugly.

So here is a little glimpse of what the inside of my suitcase purse normally looks like. I realize that I may have gotten a little carried away with the SNACKS, but hey, you never know!

I also have a history of low blood sugar-induced dizzy spells while working out and have been found napping on the gym floor (because this made sense to me in that moment) a handful of times, using my gym bag as a pillow.

Lesson learned. Always carry snackums.

I recently came across another great snack option from My Fit Foods!

I was (and still am) a little leary about the thought process behind this company, just because you have all of these "healthy" pre-packaged food items that you then have to nuke in the microwave in their plastic container...hmmm. Just not sure. BUT, they do offer a few healthy, raw food items that are easy to grab and go!

My work recently had our local My Fit Foods cater breakfast and had some of these Chicken Fruit Bowls leftover. Included in the bowl was sliced apples, oranges, grapes, walnuts, and chicken.

Once you got past the tartness of the lemon juice that was sprinkled on the apple slices (to keep them from browning), it was a nice, refreshing snack! 

I thoroughly enjoy my time spent in the kitchen preparing our meals, so I don't think that I would ever take advantage of their pre-packaged meals, but there is something appealing about these nice, pre-packed snacks!

Would you consider yourself a muncher or a mealer?

Pasta, Pills, & A New Commitment

Let's start today's post by recapping last night's dinner. 

I intended to make Giada's "Pasta Ponza" from my Giada At Home recipe book, but then I decided to throw in a few leftover food items that I thought would be a good addition.

So I'm not sure what to call this, but I do know that it was DEEELICIOUS!

Let's just call it Pasta Delicious.

(recipe at the end of this post)

This morning, I woke up around 7:00 AM, scarfed down a mini Clif bar (LOVE this flavor!) and headed out the door for a Sunday morning run!

I intended to only cover 6.5 miles, but 6.5 quickly turned into 8 and before I knew it, I had covered 13 miles! A long, pain-free, fast-paced run is one of the best feelings in the world! 

And speaking of half marathons, I am currently participating in the Woodlands Fit Marathon Training program to train for my upcoming marathons, but I was recently asked to be the head coach for the half marathon 9-minute/mile and under pace group for the Spring Season of Woodlands Fit! I am definitely looking forward to being a source of encouragement, training, and healthy living for next season's Woodlands Fit half marathoners!

Now, a random but important topic. Vitamins!

I attribute MUCH of my new found energy and pain-free running to these little guys. I've never been very diligent in taking my vitamins, but after having my blood tested and finding out that I have extremely low Iron, I now take these three vitamins (plus Ligaplex that I am currently out of) religiously! I can tell a HUGE difference in my energy levels since taking the Iron supplement. 

I highly encourage you to AT LEAST take a multi vitamin every day! It really does make a huge difference in the long run (in every sense of the word)!

After my run, it was oatmeal time! Topped with a big spoonful of Justin's Maple Almond Butter. 

I also snacked on an organic gala apple and a handful of peanuts while my oatmeal was cooking.

Lunch was...more Justin's (officially obsessed) on Great Harvest Woodstock with more apple slices.

I also had a few jumbo chocolate covered pecans for dessert :)

Great Harvest bread, nuts, nut butter, organic apples, Crofters, Greek yogurt, chocolate, and coffee. Oh how I wish you fulfilled all of my nutritional needs...

A Blueberry Bliss Luna bar was had as a snack a few hours later. 

This is, by far, my favorite Luna flavor. SO good.

For dinner, the hubs and I decided to go out! We are both suckers for mexican food and decided that splitting the fajitas at Guadalajara sounded like perfection. Best fajitas in town!

Now time for me to dive into my Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert! I'll probably have to do a small slice of both...with some vanilla ice cream on the side, of course :)

Pasta Delicious 

(adapted from Giada's Pasta Ponza)

Ingredients

• Butter for greasing
• 2 cups (12 ounces) red cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup (6 ounces) yellow cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 cups fresh broccoli
• 1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
• 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
• 3/4 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 pound ziti or other short tube-shaped pasta
• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 ounces) Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup sliced green olives
• 1/2 cup marinated mushrooms, chopped

Directions

1. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
2. Place the tomatoes, sweet potato, broccoli, capers, olive oil, salt, and pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
4. Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley, olives, and mushrooms and serve immediately.

Great Harvest Bread Co.

(source)

Let's talk about something that is very close to my heart. 

Bread.

I've always liked the idea of having a local bakery to buy fresh bread from, but we never had one close while living in Dallas.

Since moving to The Woodlands, however, we luckily have a Great Harvest about 10 minutes from our house!

I became familiar with Great Harvest through the blogging world, and after all of the rave reviews, I was ELATED to find that we had one so close!

We would always just buy our bread at the grocery store in the past, but since purchasing our first GH loaf a few months ago, there is NO WAY I will ever go back to the pre-packaged stuff.

And they have these COLOSSAL cookies that are free on Fridays. Major bonus :)

They also have a nice selection of jams and preserves that have a nice, short list of ingredients that your body will recognize. Major MAJOR bonus.

I have tried (and purchased many times over) the Irish Soda Bread, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut, Nine Grain, Honey Whole Wheat, Dakota, and Woodstock.

Every single one was MOUTHWATERING.

The bread is soft, moist, chewy, dense, fresh, and perfect in every way.

But toasted? OMG. It stays soft and chewy, but toasting it gives it a slight crunch and really brings out a "nuttiness" of the bread. 

Obsessed.

The owner of our local GH told me one time that her husband gets to the bakery every morning at 1:00 AM to start milling the flour for that day's bread. Yeah. 

To say that Great Harvest has set a high standard for all "grocery store" bread is an understatement.

There should really be no other option. 

If you have a local (or not local...it's worth the drive...or flight) Great Harvest, take FULL advantage of it! It is too good to pass up!

I heart Great Harvest. Let's make shirts.

We Go Together Like...

There are a few flavor/texture combos that I have come across in my life that have made me fall in love with food all over again. 

So here are a few of them. 

Some strange, others probably very normal.

Here we go.

Moist muffins topped with a crunchy streusel and sweet, creamy glaze. Help me.

Pumpkin and chocolate chip anything...I die.

Best friends and cupcakes. 

There is NO WAY you can have this and not smile all day long :)

Chicken salad and curry powder. Nom.

My olive, sun-dried tomato, marinated artichoke mixture...on top of anything.

Scrambled eggs, sweet potatoes, and broccoli...topped with ketchup.

Ham & Swiss topped with a Butter Poppyseed Sauce. Holy moly pants.

This morning's breakfast! NOM!

Oatmeal topped with Justin's Maple Almond Butter, Better Butter, or any peanut butter. Swoon.

Parsnip fries topped with onions, thyme, garlic, and olive oil. Perfect burger side dish.

Black rice noodles and shrimpies. I want.

Pretzels and mustard. We all know how great this is.

Brussel sprouts topped with mustard (mustard was tardy). Yumtown.

Butternut squash and goat cheese on top of...carbs.

Throw some BBQ sauce in there? Hold me back.

GH Nine Grain toast topped with jam and Greek or Icelandic yogurt. This is my staple :)

Buttermilk waffles topped with peanut butter and pure maple syrup. Eatchaheartout.

And here is yesterday's LUNCH making it's grand appearance...GH Woodstock, toasted and topped with Justin's Maple Almond Butter. Heavenly.

And one of my all time faves (and yesterday's breakfast!), overnight oats topped with jam and peanut butter.

What are some of YOUR favorite flavor/texture combos???

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." 

~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

San Diego: Spread The Restaurant

Guess what???

My sister is probably the most amazing, influential person you will ever meet. 

Because of this and her career, she is frequently asked to speak at different conventions all over the country.

Yeah, I'm jealous too.

Her next speaking engagement is scheduled for mid-November in San Diego, and due to my rather...flexible...work schedule right now, I will be able to accompany her!

It will actually be my FIRST time to ever step foot on California soil, so I am SO SO SO excited about this little trip! I will only be there for 3 days, and I am sure that I will leave kicking and screaming and begging for more, but 3 days away from the rude Texas heat is better than nothing :) And I am practically going for free...so let's do this.

My sister will be speaking at her conference during the daytime, and I can't think of anything better to do with my solo San Diego time than walk around, discovering San Diego's best bakeries, coffee shops, and eateries!

I already have a rather lengthy "food hit list" that will be almost impossible to cover in 3 days, but at the top of my list is a little eatery called Spread.

(source)

"Spread's mission is to stimulate and challenge the culinary imagination of their diners by working with and serving only locally grown, organic ingredients. With an uncompromising belief in eating a diet predominantly vegetarian and/or vegan, Spread is 100% dedicated to providing the best of the best; and accomplishes that by scouring the local Farmer's Markets and local farms, often picking out of the ground that very evening's bounty! Specializing in the rarest fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers, we strive to constantly create new and exciting menu items and tastes for every diner to enjoy. Step outside of the box, and join us for an unforgettable, fun dining experience!"

-Spread The Restaurant

...and they have nut butters.

(source)

But these are not your normal nut butters. Oh no. With flavors like "White & Dark Chocolate Infused with Pretzels Spread", "White Chocolate Blueberry Peanut Spread","Butterscotch Almond Spread", and "Blonde Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Spread", I feel like whoever is responsible for these insane flavors is probably my long lost best friend.

(source)

They ALSO have nut butters for.my.pup.

Yep. It's official. Must go here.

Only 84 more days! The countdown has begun!

Have you ever been to San Diego? Any recommendations??