no-bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars

I keep calling these summer months "Arizona Winter." What I mean, is that these are the months we mostly want to stay inside. It's been an adjustment for me, having grown up with 4 distinct seasons, I always looked forward to the warmth of summer. But now the harsh heat and sunny days keep us mostly cooped up inside and we look forward to the relief the winter will bring. To be honest, I still miss the charms of the seasons, but I'm learning to be thankful for these newly defined seasons we're experiencing.

Anyways, being indoors encourages me to fluff my nest and immerse myself in homemaking (is it being indoors, or is it this little one growing inside of me? not sure!). Today I was craving a sweet breakfast treat, but was feeling reluctant to turn on the oven with the rising temps outside. So I decided to try and create a no-bake version of the bar I was imagining. I only had about 30 minutes before I needed to start working for the day, so I quick whipped this together. I had made similar bars in the passed from other recipes, but had to work with the ingredients I had. These little guys are packed with protein and good stuff but get the husband stamp of approval and will even satisfy the sweet tooth of a 24 week pregnant gal ;)

No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

2 C of oatmeal blended to a flour consistency
1/2 C walnuts chopped
1/4 tsp of salt
2 T of cocoa powder
2 T of shredded coconut
1/2 C natural peanut butter
1/4 C honey
1/4 C coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla

First mix all your dry ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to create a cookie dough consistency. Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment or wax paper and press the mixture flat into the pan. Add another square liner on top and press with a spoon or small rolling pin to flatten. Freeze for at least 1-2 hours and keep stored in the freezer until they are gone!

Banana Smoothie for Breakfast

This summer, I've not only been trying to clean up my eating, but I've also been more intentional about what I put into my body. Because what doesn't go in is just as important as what does!

One thing I knew was missing was a steady source of fiber. I've slowly been adding more vegetables and leafy greens to our diet, but while we are transitioning to that I was still needing a boost. So I decided to try adding flaxseeds to some of the foods I was already eating. And I've found that they are good for so much more! In addition to increasing my daily fiber intake, flaxseeds also provide a healthy dose of natural antioxidants (lignans) and omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid). And I actually really love the texture they add. You can add it to baked goods, sprinkle on oatmeal or in smoothies or on salads. The possibilities are endless. You don't need a lot, and I don't use more than 1-2 tablespoons per day. I was already making breakfast smoothies on a regular basis, and now I just stir in a little bit of flaxseed at the end!

Banana Smoothie with Flaxseed

1 frozen banana
1/2 cup of milk
3/4 cup of plain yogurt
1-2 teaspoons coconut oil
sprinkle of shredded coconut
dash of cinnamon
drizzle of honey
4-5 ice cubes
1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal

I blend all the ingredients except for the flaxseed because I've found that it gets stuck in the blade of the blender. After I pour the smoothie into my glass I just stir in the flaxseed and let it sit for a minute. It's really hard to mess this up and actually some of those measurements I estimated because I never really measure! If I have other fruit on hand I'll put some in for variety. My goal with this drink was to not add extra sugar than was already found naturally in my ingredients if possible. I use plain yogurt and just rely on the banana, honey, cinnamon and coconut for the sweetness, and it does the trick! Yum!