What to Look For When Buying Vegetables

Here is a great info graphic on what to look for when buying vegetables.  I find these really handy.  I had come across one earlier this summer about fruits and had actually used the information when I was in the local grocery store.  In particular, I wanted to buy a watermelon and the information was spot on as that watermelon was so sweet and tasty!

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bar Recipe

OK so I have definitely been on a pumpkin kick but I am totally in love with the flavor!  I'm also trying to eat more healthy and have been changing my food habits.  I love granola but the brands available at the local grocery store are filled with sugar and other additives that I really don't need or want.  So I decided to search for a recipe so that I can make some at home.  Granola bars are the perfect snack for me.  They fill up my belly and are perfect for grab and go!

Below is the best pumpkin spice granola recipe that I found to suit my tastes.  I choose this one because it had both pumpkin seeds and pumpkin puree in it.  I wanted the pumpkin seeds for health benefits but I wanted the pumpkin puree for the pumpkin flavor.  It also has less sugar than other recipes and uses honey to replace the lessened amount of sugar so they still have the sweetness that I desire.  I'll probably omit the white chocolate drizzle as well just to keep them more healthy and less sweet.

If you don't have the time nor the inkling to make your own pumpkin spice granola bars try Nature's Path Organic Granola Bars, Pumpkin-n-Spice.  These are a great organic, non-GMO granola bar alternative and they sell out quickly at the current advertised price of $17.88 for a pack of 6.  That's less than $3 a box!

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

 

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour

Recipe by: Fork Knife Swoon

Yield: 12 Granola Bars

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup puréed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil

Chocolate Drizzle

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients until well-combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir to combine, until the entire mixture is moist and well-incorporated.
3. Pour the granola onto the sheet pan, and using your fingers or the back of a spoon, press the mixture into an even layer from edge to edge. Bake for 35-40 mins, until the granola is golden brown and just firm to the touch.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully lift the parchment paper to remove the granola. Let rest on a baking rack, until completely cooled. Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the granola into bars.
5. If adding the chocolate drizzle, melt together the chocolate chips and cream in the microwave or using a double-boiler, stirring constantly until completely smooth. Drizzle the granola bars with the chocolate. Let cool.
6. Can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.

Where to Buy Wine Barrels

I came across this great idea to use wine barrels as tables and I love the idea!  I would really like to switch out my two (un-matching) end tables for something fun and interesting.  I was initially looking for a whiskey barrel for sale and I came across these from Wine Barrel Creations.  I love the reviews.  The smell of wine in the air!  Yum!  And I think the wine stains are fabulous!  They can also be used as rain catchers or planters.  If you're crafty, then you can always make a small bookshelf or half barrel table with a flat top.  The possibilities are endless.  Check out Wine Barrel Creations here.

Features

• Made from 1" thick solid oak
• inside still shows the gorgeous red wine stain
• has original cooperage marking and metal bands
• from a Napa Valley winery
• great for wine cellars or bar area

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Product Description

This is a used 59 gallon oak wine barrel straight from a Napa Valley winery to you! Works great as a table or decor. still water tight for your rain catcher! Because these are used barrels each one will have its own caricature and uniqueness coming from years of use as a Napa Valley wine barrel! Sorry we do not ship to AK or HI Brought to you by Wine Barrel Creations

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Customer Reviews


Just what I wanted! By Kathy B
This barrel is better than the picture. Complete with the aroma of wine.
Just what we were looking for as an addition to our decor.
Shipping was timely.

Great authentic wine barrel... By Kristina K Moulaison
This was just what I wanted! A used Napa Valley wine barrel. Has a hole in the side and you can still smell the wine inside. I got two. They are each unique with different stamps on the ends. Very happy with the product. Was shipped in two days with Prime.

Napa Wine Barrels
By Jim
Barrels are AWESOME!!! They look great and made great patio tables. They arrived in a very timely manner and were exactly as advertised. Even with the shipping they cost less then other wine barrels on the market. Great product at a great price!

See more reviews 

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2664 in Lawn & Patio
• Brand: Wine Barrel Creations
• Dimensions: 27.00" h x 27.00" w x 36.00" l, 110.00 pounds 

 I really think I'm going to love these as end tables.  It totally fits with my style.  Cheers!

Football Food

I've been searching the internet for some good football season foods and I came across this great blog with a ton of recipes for everything including snacks, soups, desserts and even cocktails!  While some of the recipes don't really mesh well with my idea of football food, I do think they are all still fantastic and will try them out on other occasions.  I'm supper excited to try some of these recipes especially the 30-Minute Buffalo Chicken French Breads.  That will be a super help this week since I have a fully booked schedule and have limited time to cook.  Click here to check out the recipes.  What are your favorite football foods?

Homemade Fireball Whiskey

Well hot damn!  A Fireball recipe that can be made at home.  This is awesome!  The recipe sounds right and I’m going to make this soon and see if it comes out like the original.  Last year, I had made a cocktail with 1 oz vodka, .5 oz pumpkin spice liquor, a bar spoon of fireball and cranberry juice served in a highball glass and people loved it!  The fireball gave the cocktail a nice warm taste and I can't wait to make it again this fall.  Click here to read the full article.  Cheers!

HOMEMADE FIREBALL WHISKEY

INGREDIENTS:

·         1 (750 ml) bottle inexpensive whiskey

·         8 Cinnamon sticks

·         3 oz Simple Syrup

·         6 Whole dried red chili peppers (optional)

PREPARATION:

Empty the bottle of whiskey into a large container with a lid. Add the cinnamon sticks and simple syrup and seal. Shake the container and let stand for five days, shaking daily.

After five days, add the dried chili peppers to the container, if desired, and shake. Let stand for three to four more days, tasting after the first day to test the flavor intensity. When the flavor reaches the desired intensity, strain and bottle.

Ranch Potatoes

One of my very favorite comfort foods is Ranch Potatoes.  I do them both as mashed and as regular bite size pieces and I enjoy them both the same.  If I’m making mashed ranch potatoes, I use a half a packet (depending on how many potatoes I’m making) of Hidden Valley Ranch dry seasoning mix, a little butter a little milk or half & half if I’m feeling indulgent.  When I make them in bite size pieces I usually use red potatoes because they hold together better after being boiled.  Sometimes I’ll sprinkle some shredded cheese on top just to make it extra yummy!  It’s so easy to add some flavor to basic foods like potatoes.  What are your favorite quick tips?

If you're looking for an organic ranch dip mix, try Simply Organic Salad Dressing Mix.  It's gluten free, Kosher and certified organic.  I've used this before and like it just as much as the Hidden Valley Ranch mix.

More on Pumpkin Flavored Food & Drink

Yesterday I told you about how I found the Krusteaz Pumpkin Pancake mix and ever since then everything around is brimming with Pumpkin this and pumpkin that!  My inbox is full of recipes and items back on the market for fall.  I also found Pumpkin Spice Syrup to go along with my pancakes! I’m going to try it with the pancake mix but I think that it will be a little to much pumpkin for me.  I like a subtle hint of flavor rather than an onslaught.  I think the flavored maple syrup will go best with buttermilk pancakes.

Initially, I though it was maple syrup but after reading the ingredients, I realized it was just a syrup but can be used on waffles, pancakes, French toast and in coffee!  YUM!!!  The ingredients are simple with corn syrup, pumpkin water, pure cane sugar, light brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.  My kind of stuff!  There’s nothing in there that I can’t pronounce!  

I got this e-mail with 17 different pumpkin recipes!  I really like All You magazine.  It’s loaded with money saving tips and tons of coupons.  Click here to see the recipes.

I also got an e-mail from Chilled magazine and one particular article caught my eye…Dogfish Head Beer has brought back Punkin Ale for the Fall.  Yum!  You can use the Fish Finder to find a store that has it in stock near you.  I have 24 locations within 5 miles of me so I'll be picking up a six pack for the weekend.  Click here to read the article and use the Fish Finder.

Cheers guys!

Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Pancake Mix

I went out shopping yesterday and came across Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Pancake Mix.  I decided quickly to buy it.  Why?  First and foremost, I love the brand.  Krusteaz always has great flavor and the pancake always come out so light and fluffy.  I’ve had the Krusteaz buttermilk pancake mix and they were fantastic! 

Second, with summer winding down and fall coming, the shelves are filled with pumpkin flavored groceries.  The flavors and smells of autumn are one of my favorite things about the season.   I’m so happy to have found this mix.  I will be cooking up a batch of pumpkin pancakes from this mix as soon as the weather turns crisp!  What are your favorite pumpkin flavored foods?