Honoring and Breaking Traditions
I am a great lover of tradition, new and old.
Ever since we decided to go to Hawaii for Spring Break, we’ve had the tradition of putting on our swimsuits and getting out our beach towels, regardless of the fact that it is December 20th and the middle of our living room.
Lulu was prepared with her reading material.
Gigi asked for a snack, “something tropical.”
I’m not quite sure how hummus and crackers qualify, especially at 9:30 in the morning. She then went on to sing a traditional Hawaiian Christmas song, not “Mele Kalikimaka,” but “Away in a Manger,” with some non-traditional lyrics, “There was a strange angel who lived in my bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head!”
Strange angel, indeed.
That cute, yet strange angel, Gigi made at preschool and it accompanied my green smoothie in a bowl.
We’d planned to go to church this morning, but I made the mistake of baking before getting ready to go, and ended up taking too long primping and made us late. God could ensure my timely arrival at church if He’d just bless me with some better hair days.
But back to the baking, I put a Christmas spin on my traditional Vegan Energy Bars.
Christmas Vegan Energy Bars
- 2 c. quick cooking oats
- 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 t. cinnamon
- 1/2 t. ginger
- 1/2 t. nutmeg
- 1/4 c. dried cranberries
- 1/4 c. chocolate chips
- 1/2 c. almond butter
- 2 T. maple syrup
- 2 T. molasses
- 1/4 c. granular sweeter (I used NuNaturals Stevia Baking Blend)
- 2 t. ground flax seed + 6 T. water
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flax and water. Set aside. Combine all dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
Stir in dried cranberries and chocolate chips. In a separate bowl, combine syrup, molasses sweetener and nut butter and mix until smooth. Combine nut butter mixture with flax/water mixture.
Add wet to dry ingredients and mix well.
Press the mixture into an 8 x 8 pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes. Cut into bars and allow to cool on a rack.
This afternoon, I had the privilege of sharing one of my childhood traditions with Gigi. I took her to see the Nutcracker ballet, just as I had done every year growing up. Of course, when I was little, I went to the Oregon Ballet Theater’s production in Portland with my best friend’s family, who spared no expense.
Gigi and I, however, watched the local ballet academy’s performance, sponsored by the Santiam Foot Clinic. Thank the Lord they didn’t throw some dancing bunions into the show.
Gigi was absolutely thrilled, and though the performance was nearly two hours long, she loved every second of it.
We stopped at Starbucks on the way home and I made the non-traditional decision to let her choose whatever treat she wanted to eat (urging her towards the Cranberry Bliss Bars, as any sensible person would).
She chose some lemon pound cake the she devoured all of but about two bites. She said, “I’ll take this home to give to Lulu.” We wrapped up the remnants of the crummy crumbly cake, grabbed her ice water and headed for home. We were about ten feet out of the Starbucks’ driveway when Gigi piped up, “I KNOW! I can give Lulu my ice water, and I can eat the rest of the cake!” Always thinking of others, that one.
Meanwhile, Lulu enjoyed some father/son quality time with her dad.
“Are you calling me a boy?!” I really don’t mind my little tomboy, though. Someone has to neutralize all the tutus, glitter and makeup up in here, as it’s starting to look like Adam Lambert’s dressing room.
You knew this was going to happen when we got home.
And probably this too: for dinner tonight, I put a non-traditional spin on a traditional favorite and made some Stovetop Broccoli Stuffing.
I sauteed onions, garlic and mushrooms, seasoned with sage, salt and pepper.
I added some steamed broccoli, dried cranberries, almonds and veggie sausage and heated it through.
I served it up along with some roasted butternut squash.
We’ve continued tradition tonight by looking at Christmas lights, wrapping presents and trying not to sneak too many bites of the Christmas goodies that our neighbor brought by.
To deter my munching, I keep reminding myself that the treats were likely made with the assistance of the neighbor’s 4-year-old granddaughter who helped delivered them. Preschoolers licking the beater midway through cooking is a tradition I’m all too familiar with.
We always went to see The Nutcracker, too! I miss it. Must be so special with GiGi, knowing how much she appreciates a good ballet performance and all
Question: Any other suggestions for my beloved spaghetti squash besides putting marinara on it? I think I’ve OD’d…
Oooh! I love the look of those energy bars, so chewy and tasty. And that broccoli stuffing looks FABULOUS!
U mean you were in a swimsuit along with the girls? Olalala mama P!!!
Yes.. preschoolers do lick the beaters.. unfortunately I’m no longer in preschool and I still like them.. Though I don’t stick them back in the batter afterwards! Going to the Nutcracker looks like a lot of fun!
I bet she loved the Nutcracker! How sweet. I like the little angel of her, too.
That is so sweet that you and Gigi had the afternoon to spend together! I am sure she will cherish that memory and hopefully pass it along to her children one day.
Haha, so funny about the cake, because I use to to the same with my sister. I would get a happy meal and give her a hamburger patty and keep everything else. Huh, guess I was always a vegetarian at heart!
Have a wonderful day lady!
LOVE THE NUTCRACKER!!
Seriously your girls are way too cute! I love them.
We made trash for Isaac’s class this past week. I was thrilled when he took the leftovers to school!
I need b-nut squash fries. I have been missing them!
Aww – I used to go see the Nutcracker with my mom back in the day, too! So glad GiGi loved it. And I definitely saw the dancing in the tutu coming! What a ballerina!
So funny. I love it. Such a cute post and great recipe for the bars. I hope you have a nice day with your family (I mentioned your positive spirit in my post today —it is inspiring).
Hi there, I had a question as well. What would happen if I tried to make those bars with regular (not quick cooking) oats?
OMG gigi is so freaking cute. she is always thinking of her lil sister! BTW i love the bunion shout out..I mean..I dunno if it was a shoutout but my grandma appreciated it.
Gigi’s ice water quote is so precious!! And I def. love my memories of going to see the Nutcracker with my mom as a child… love that!
What a fun “traditional” day!
I always wanted to take the teenager to see the Nutcracker, but somehow it never worked out. Well, for several years I thought he was too little, and then I thought he was too old. Plus, a good friend of mine took her two kids one year and they didn’t appreciate it much… Anyway, I am DETERMINED to take the toddler and he WILL like it! Or at least he’ll pretend…
Have a great week!
I have been making an effort to make it a tradition to take Maya to the Nutcracker each year but somehow it only happened last year.
I need to do better!
First of all, those energy bars look awesome, thanks for sharing the recipe.
Secondly, your girls are too cute! I love how thoughtful Gigi was to bring home something for her sister, even if it was just water. Adorable!
My mom and dad used to take us to see the Nutcracker almost every year. Thanks for the memory trip
Stovetop brock stuffing, the energy bars, and the puppy chow…yum! I veganized the chex mix a few months back. I mean, I think it’s inherently a vegan recipe. But I just called it Vegan as it somehow made me feel a little bit “healhier” about indulging LOL
I saw the Nutcracker last Christmas! It was my favorite.
Those Vegan Energy Bars look amazing! You sure know what you’re doin in the kitchen
The ice water comment is cracking me up!
I have a feeling Gigi will be up on stage dancing IN the Nutcracker. Hopefully, your little tomboy won’t mind going to watch her sister dance.
Drooling over the chocolate chips in your energy bars!
I love that the ballet was sponsored by a foot clinic – gotta get those new clients somehow! Your strange angel is too cute!!
Love the Christmas spin on the bars!
Sarah and I use to go to the Nutcracker every year, too. I should start that tradition up again…
i’m making those vegan bars today. can i make them non-vegan and use an egg instead of the flax and water? i’m guess that’s what that is substituting…
love your tomboy child…looks like me…even now.
i might start saving up your posts and reading them all at once, because i just got to read FOUR of them, and it was fun. lots of fun!
yay for capitol christmas trees…stop by wisconsin and i will give you a grand tour of ours!
yay for vegan pizza places and pancakes that look like madonna’s cracked out face.
and YAY FOR HAWAII!!!! never too soon to start getting excited haha…and i am pretty sure the first pic of gigi girl made my day.
and i have been bopping to glee non-stop…LOVE IT! thank youuuuuuu
your posts never cease to put a smile on my face and a chuckle in my day!
thanks for sharing…and I truly mean that!
awww i loved the nutcracker when i was little!!! and i totally danced and danced and DANCED in my pink tutu for hours afterwards. love it!!
Adam lambert. LOL
i kind of want to make those christmas bars now.
LOVE YOU
YUM everything looks delicious! I used to love going to teh nutccracker!
so fun!
I made your chickpeas the other day (pumpkin spice ) and they were gone in 2 days!! AMAZING!! thank you so much, I will be making them again!
Hawaii for Spring Break? Jealous!
Glad your blog is back and un-hacked.
OK, so I just caught up on three posts. This means I have no idea what comments are going to fly from my fingertips and from which posts. Here goes!
I love the lockets! That is something the girls will have and wear for years. I still have a “Daddy’s Little Girl” necklace that I’ll whip out on occasion (moreso to be ironic or something now/ to make Popsicle smile), and a guardian angel bracelet that I never take off. Both have been Christmas presents from my family, when I was 2 or 3 and when I was 15, respectively.
And then Adam Lambert comes to mind. Not sure why. That was hilarious, though. How are you so smart?
If you want your girls to be classy, don’t let them peek at my latest post. Just a warning.
I’m envious of these smoothies in a bowl. I had an apple topped with granola yesterday and thought of you. That had nothing to do with the smoothie, but I’m just letting the words flow.
Puppy Chow is the most dangerous snack. I’m a crazy person around it. It’s like, don’t talk to me, I’m eating. Forever.
So, maybe I should end this spastic post. I missed you over the weekend! Isn’t that crazy? I just had that feeling, though.
Anyway, I hope your Monday is going gloriously! Love you!!!! xoxoxoxoxo
GiGi and I are twins. I always picked lemon pound cake at starbizzle, while my mom urged me to get the raspberry bars. Then i would also eat it solo and nevs share
oh mama pea, please adopt me LMAO. i think its meant to be
xoxoxoxox
lolo
That’s so adorable how Gigi attempted to do the ballet thing after seeing the Nutcracker! And good for Lulu being a tomboy while wearing pink.. haha.
All your food looks so good, specially the bars.
Seeing the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center was one of my most beloved childhood traditions. Glad the girls enjoyed it so much!!!
Hahahhaa Gigi’s act of generosity sounds like something my older cousin (by 11 months) Kellen would pull when we were growing up! Are they super competitive? Like, Kellen and I would HIDE whatever treats our mom’s gave us after dinner…so that one of us could enjoy it slowly, in front of the other person who had already finished theirs right before. Did that make any sense?? Haha– Oops, unintentional story time!
We we’re brats though….Lulu & Gigi seem too sweet for that
And although i’m sure you’re aware, those vegan energy bars look amazinggg!!!