All new: cooking and clothes!
Two of my favorite things, and one of my favorite blog topics!
I’ve been experimenting with loads of recipes lately, but today I will share a fun and healthy recipe for homemade Fruit & Nut Bars. First of all, have you tried LARABARS? They are delish, and so simple. They have between 2 and 5 ingredients, so no nasty preservatives etc. But for some reason I am allergic to raw nuts so I thought I’d try making my own with toasted nuts. The basic recipe is:
*2 cups toasted almonds
*1/2 cup pitted dates
That’s it! Put ‘em in the Cuisinart and blend until both ingredients are completely smooshed and combined. If it’s too dry add more dates; if it’s too wet add more nuts. Next: grab a handful and mold them into candy bar shaped logs (kind of messy, but easy to wash off), wrap them in plastic wrap, and put them in the fridge to chill for a couple hours.
How easy is that? And they’re so good. I also like to add things like orange, lemon, or cinnamon extract; cocoa powder; cranberries; roasted cashews instead of almonds… the sky’s the limit! They’re a great snack, and it’s fun to eat something homemade that looks so professional.
And now for the CLOTHES!!!
Today’s featured designer is Rebecca Taylor. I was browsing her line at ShopLAStyle.com and fell in love with almost everything!
This dress is a little fancy-pants, but I think it’s quite cute:
This shirt is very similar, but I just love the back detail. So cute:
Adorable pink cami w/ petal detailing along the top:
Very pretty black party dress w/ supercute beading in the front:
I love this sun dress. Can’t wait for summer!!!
Another cute ‘n summery dress w/ pretty bead detail in front:
That’s all for now. If you try making the Nut/Date bars, lemme know how they turn out!
April 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
ok, so i told you how i made a special request for my library to get your book and they bought four copies! well, the copies are finally in and ALL of them are checked out!
i finally read your book and i enjoyed it so much! i couldnt put it down…and i was so proud to be “e-buddies” with the author. can’t wait for your next one!
April 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
i love the top with the cool backing, nice finds overall!
April 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I love the Rebecca Taylor ideas.
It’s nice to see spring fashions.
Finally. The date bars sound
awesome, but you might want
to wear an old tee when making
those. They look awfully messy.
I’d probably put a smear of
peanut butter on them. I know,
you don’t need to, the almonds
and such, but I put peanut butter
on everything. Yummm…
April 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I love that you’re a homemaker these days, Alex! =P That said, I think I’m gonna give those bars a try this w/e, so thanks! Think I could sub. the dates with apricots? I hate dates. =(
April 28th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I adore Larabars and attempting to be handy in the kitchen, so I’ll have to try this very soon! Thank you for the idea!
April 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Those fruit bars are yum to the max - I couldn’t believe that they didn’t have sugar/syrup/butter in them.
Alex - I added a ‘live comment preview’ plugin to your Wordpress, mostly because I hate commenting without preview.
It’s nice because it lets you check things like italics and
Paragraphs and links etc.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Hey great blog. Would u like to link?
April 29th, 2008 at 9:51 am
FUN! You are betty crocker these days. I am a but perplexed, though, how can one be allergic to raw but not toasted nuts, what changes??? xoxo
April 29th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I know, right? The raw/toasted thing perplexes me too. Something to do with the natural oils? Maybe they’re cooked out or something? I’m a freak of nature, I guess!!!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I’m readaing your book. I really like your characters.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
that long dress is inspiring me…i need one like it for summer!
April 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
ooh! now i really want to make those - how easy!??! i love recipies like that!
im loving that black dress
April 30th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I TAGGED YOU
May 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
haha, the first picture is adorabley funny.
thanks for the recipie
May 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
oh i forgot to say, thats SO cool you used to live in new mexico
i drove through there on a family road trip awhile back and i just looved it!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I’ve had Larabars and never thought of trying to make them. Though I would have to try to make them because I’m curious on how good they would turn out. One thing that me and the roomies would get at Whole Foods is pitted dates covered with coconut. Their really cheap and remind me of mini Larabars.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Those bars look AMAZING. I will have to try and bake some soon.
x
Also- im going to have to read your book if its as good as molly says it is…
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I love the clothes and the recipe sounds ok too i might have too try it
May 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
i SOOO want to make some yummy bars like that.
i also SOOO don’t have the time right now. [but i do have time to comment on friends blogs? hmm]
how much can i pay you to make me some and ship them?
May 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
you know what I got in the mail this morning from my mom?!? A WHOLE CASE OF LARABARS!!!!!!!!! I love them. Key lime is my fav.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Wow, your bars seem to be a hit! You should market those bitches! hahaha
Oh, and I like the last dress (the white one) the best, I think…
May 8th, 2008 at 12:45 am
i’ve been on a cooking/baking spree lately so i’m really anxious to try your recipe. seems fool-proof even for me!
i’m also a big rebecca taylor fan! i own one of her dresses and it’s so pretty and feminine:)
xoxo
May 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
ok, I’m hungry now.
Pass the cookies.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
That little pink sequined dress is my ideal New Year’s Eve attire! I guess I’d be quite ahead of the game if I purchased it now…