Peanut Butter Cereal Snack Bites

Happy Friday!

What are you up to this weekend?

Photo Credit: Peanuts Worldwide

(This post may contain affiliate links)

Jump to Recipe

We’re going to have a busy one filled with road trips and new puppies(!)

First, we’re heading south to Kansas City to pick up a new bed.  Certainly, we could have had it delivered, but I’m hopelessly impatient when it comes to such things.  Little Z will nap on the seat between us; we’ll listen to books on tape, and eat some bbq while we’re there.

After we get home, we’ll turn around the next morning and make our way to the north-east corner of the state to pick up our puppies.  We can’t wait to meet them

Anticipating their arrival, the past few weeks I’ve been in full nesting mode.

Everything is clean (we even tidied up the basement), and the cats have been lectured about being on their best behavior.  I’ve fretted over getting the perfect beds and toys for them, checked out puppy books from the library, and set up the kiddy pool in the back yard for them to splash in.

Admittedly, it feels a little bittersweet.  I know Wally would have loved to welcome them home

(Lots of pictures to come)

Whatever you’re up to, I hope you have a good one(!)

Photo Credit: Gettys.com – Chinese Sky Lanterns

For the weekend, I thought it might be fun to share a few things that we’ve been loving this summer

Chinese Sky Lanterns (aka wishing lanterns):  Find a wide-open spot, light them, make a wish, and let them go.  It’s fun and romantic to watch them float away

The most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on:  A king-size mattress that arrived on our doorstep in a box the size of an apartment fridge.  Not only is it comfortable, but if one of us gets out of bed in the middle of the night, the other can’t even tell.

Related:  The best pillow

A primer on making pancakes:  Because there’s nothing better than pancakes on a lazy Sunday morning

If Ames hadn’t hosted the World Series this summer, I never would have heard about Beep Baseball.  If you ever have a chance to volunteer or simply watch a game, you’ll be really glad you did

In want of a good raisin?  The water-walking women claim there’s nothing better than Dole.  Although they’ve found themselves in a terrible quandary, they’re nearly impossible to find in grocery stores and, “There’s no way I’ll pay five dollars for a bag online(!)”   Oh no, what’s happened to the Dole Raisin?

I’ve mentioned it before, but with the new puppies coming thought I might again.  A year ago we switched our dogs to a raw food diet and haven’t had a moment’s worth of regret.  Within a few days, their coats were noticeably shiny and softer.  They’re calmer, in a way that can only happen when your tummy is truly satisfied and full.  There’s no more cleaning up in the back yard; their poop doesn’t smell at all and completely disintegrates

To read more about the benefits of raw pet food

The Amazing Benefits of Walking

With my youngest grandson starting to eat solid food, and my daughter expecting her second child in January, I’ve been gifting baby food cookbooks.  A few I’m loving: here, here, and here

Our go-to Pandora stations this summer:  Zaz, Sonia Dada, Lyle Lovett, Acoustic Alchemy, and Jazz Guitar

Turkish towels:  We use them for everything, including throws on the sofa and pet beds.  There’s one tucked in my pool bag and picnic basket.  They get softer with each washing and are dry in no time.

The idea of an energy bite isn’t new, but if you’re someone who grabs a commercial bar regularly, and you’re not already on board, these are worth a try as a homemade alternative.

I’ve been making them for a late afternoon snack to reach for when I’m sitting down to work, but they’re also great for traveling (or summertime road trips).  They’re loved by kids as well as adults.

The best part is that you’re in control of the ingredients and they’re a breeze to make.

That said, I deployed a few, small, but (I’ll argue) significant personal preferences when I set out to make energy bites.  Most recipes tend toward coconut flakes and oats with a superfood like chia seeds added to the mix.

Certainly, they’re great, but I was looking for a recipe idea to pass along to someone who didn’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and may not have all of the typical ingredients in their pantry.  Kashi cereal was something she always had

Feel free to swap things up a bit; use whatever sweetener you prefer, add spices if you like, an alternative nut butter, or keep things simple and just go with this version

Enjoy!

ps:  You’ll want to keep these in the fridge so they’ll hold their shape

— — —

~ Adapted from Sprouted Kitchen