Friday rolled around quickly this week! I guess that’s what happens when you lose a day to a field trip. No complaints on my part!!!
Today has definitely had the “end of the week” feel to it…
- we (i.e. the princesses and myself) lagged getting started on school work this morning…all my fault because I didn’t want to get out of bed when the alarm went off.
- despite our late start we managed to finish just in time for lunch. Thankfully lunch orders were simple…leftover Taco Lime Soup and quesadillas on honey wheat tortillas with a side of fresh cut pears and homemade salsa!
- now it’s mid-afternoon and I’m still in my stinky workout clothes and my hair hasn’t even been brushed (that sounds kind of like most days around here)!
- forget about the laundry that needs to be done and let’s get baking!
My little Cailyn finished up the week learning all about the letter “D” and I couldn’t be more proud of her progress. Each week we try and bake something that goes along with the letter that she’s working on and so we decided to create some “Decadent Date Bars” today. It just so happened that Makenna had learned in history this week that Ancient Egyptians grew dates as part of their staple food. How fitting!
I decided to do my own studying and learned these little tidbits about dates:
Date are a great source of nutrition because of their high carbohydrate content as well as potassium levels.
Medjool dates are considered the diamond of dates, they are prized for their large size, extraordinary sweetness and chewy texture. It would also be most fitting to call them, “king of dates,” as they were once reserved for Moroccan royalty and their guests. They were considered to be a precious convection and remain so today.
Medjool dates are deep amber-brown and have a slightly crinkly skin that shimmers from natural sugar crystals. Bite into one, and your teeth sink into satisfyingly sticky flesh that tastes of rich caramel, hints of wild honey and a touch of cinnamon. Melt-in-your-mouth Medjools are so luscious they taste as if they have been warmed in an oven.
Like many delicacies, Medjools are pricey because their cultivation is a complex and labor-intensive process.
To store Medjools, leave them covered on the counter for up to a week or place them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to six months.
The season for dates starts in September and continues through November.
If there is one drawback regarding Medjool dates it would be this: They are addictive. Eating too many of these sugary jewels can induce a hyperglycemic laziness (this is a benign condition which a brief nap will remedy).
Decadent Date Bars
Yields 16 bars
Ingredients:
1 cup gluten free oat flour (you can grind rolled oats in your food processor)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup maple sugar
3 “flax” eggs (3 Tbsp flax meal + 3/4 cup coconut milk or water; let soak 5-7 minutes)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pound pitted medjool dates, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup finely shredded coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (plus a little extra for sprinkling on top!)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly mist an 11x7 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix the flax eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture until well combined, followed by the dates, and chocolate chips. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the coconut evenly over the top, followed by the extra chocolate chips.
Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out sticky but not wet. Cool the bars before cutting.
Nourishing Thought for Today:
More thoughts on being a “Super Mom/Wife” or being an “Abiding Mom/Wife”…
Super Mom
5. Her peace is found in the “perfect” environment.
6. She is discouraged by failure.
7. She expects perfection from herself and others.
8. She teaches her kids to be “good.”
Abiding Mom
5. Her peace is found in Jesus in the midst of any storm. (see Isaiah 26:3)
6. Failure reminds her that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
7. She practices grace with herself and others. (see Ephesians 4:32)
8. She teaches her kids to be Godly. (see Proverbs 22:6)
Have a weekend that is filled with the peace and joy that only comes from the Lord!
Blessings,
J’lene
J'lene, your pictures are wonderful. Of course my mouth is watering, because I read your blog before breakfast :-) Thank you for posting about an abiding wife, what a great reminder.
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