Home-baked energy bars and healthy snacks - Matisse & Jack's wants to bring energy bars out of the preserved package and into your kitchen. We tried their Chocolate Chip Energy Bar Mix, and we have a box of their Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Energy Bar Mix to give away to one reader.
To enter: Post a comment in this thread before tomorrow, Friday, October 19 at 5pm Eastern time. Your comment should include a good food tip for keeping your energy up in these colder, rainy days. We'll choose a qualified entrant at random. The winning reader will be asked to submit a review and several photos of the baking mix in use and after baking.
Click through for more pics and our short review!
We were impressed by the ease with which these came together. There are multiple options for mixing them up - you can use applesauce, or vanilla yogurt, or keep them less sweet with plain yogurt. They mix up in literally under a minute. You put them in a greased pan and bake for half an hour.
The result is sweet and slightly tangy (we used plain organic yogurt). They taste better when cool, and the flaxseeds and oatmeal give a nutty crunch. They also hold together well, with a firm, browned top and bottom and chewy center.
If you are someone who likes energy bars, then we would recommend this mix; the $5.99 spent on a mix with no preservatives or trans-fats is worth it. Considering that many bars sell for $1.29 or more, the 9-12 bars that you'll get out of this mix is a better deal. They also are quite filling! The taste isn't as appealing as some bars (think Odwalla) but we might experiment with some mix-ins and see how that affects them. They suggest adding peanut butter or dried fruit.
We're looking forward to one lucky reader's review!
Last week we gave away three Plastic Bag Rehab totes filled with method home products. The lucky winners were nycek, leanneabe, and meeralee. Congrats!
Count me in! :)
view Lesha's profile
For energy as it gets colder, I try to remember to have a combo of protein and carbs - cheese or a few nuts with an apple, a hard-boiled egg and some carrots or celery, yogurt with some homemade granola. I also make chai with 1/3 milk to 2/3 water... a little buzz from the tea that's balanced by the milk.
I usually favor Lara bars these days, but have heard a bit about these bake-at-home bars and would love to try them out!
view thesamanthafiles 's profile
For energy in the morning —
a bowl of cereal (I'm on a trader joe's whole grain o's kick right now) with a scoop of whey protein powder, half a banana (sliced), and either a small handful of cashews or a a tbs of peanut butter. yum! keeps me going for hours.
view MayaB's profile
As the weather gets colder, I start hybernating in the kitchen. On the weekends wrapped in thrifted older gentlemen's used cashmere sweaters, I bake and bake. During the week though, when spending more time in my cubicle than in front of the oven, I make sure to observe 'tea time' every afternoon around 4:00 p.m. I brew (okay I use the hot water feature on the 5 gallon water bottle) a nice cup of hot green tea, and enjoy a nice snack, tea bread, granola bar or homemade muffin. This extra nutritious and relaxing time keeps me grounded, and ready for the chilly treck back to home base.
view pinkuschi's profile
On cold, rainy days, starting with a bowl of hot oatmeal and maple syrup will definitely keep you going throughout the morning. A good beef and barley soup at lunch gets you through the afternoon (chowders are too heavy) and a cup of hot cocoa is a good afternoon pick-me-up. Personally, I like cozy dinners on the couch with a blanket at night, because I want to start heading into lazy ready-for-bed mode, not perky pick-me-up mode.
view leanneabe's profile
One of the nicest things about autumn is that suddenly you actually want to turn the oven on again. Oatmeal cookies, cinnamon rolls, pies....these food represent autumn like no other. So on chilly autumn afternoons, turn your oven on, make some delectible little treat, and curl up with your book, a home-made treat, and a cup of tea. Mmm.
view as3087's profile
Mine is too simple--but I really do it. Mexican hot chocolate gives me energy, makes my tummy warm, and just makes me feel cozy good on these cool, autumn nights.
view jn's profile
Warming spices: cinnamon, ginger,...
I love Thai curry for lunch, with rice. It keeps me warm all day. In the evenings, I like to make home made 'herbal tea' mixes, with grated ginger boiled in water, some lemon juice and honey, or cinnamon instead of the lemon. A delight!
view Pommette's profile
The best part about the cooler weather is curling up in fluffy blanket with either a hot apple cider or a hot chai with whipped cream and a good book. YUM!
view Shannon Bradly's profile
I have a lot more energy when I get adequate protein. It's local apple season, and I have recently started making a conscious effort to include lean protein with every meal. A quick and tasty way to do this is cottage cheese with chopped up apples.
view circlebloom's profile
please enter me thanks
view amandaacuna's profile
If I get sleepy in gray, rainy, pacific northwest afternoon, I make a mug of hot chocolate. It offers protein, sugar, and a little caffeine, too.
view brittanykate's profile
Always eat a balanced breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you want something to warm you up, eat some hot oatmeal with a little cinnamon and sugar in it., some fruit on the side, a glass of OJ, glass of milk or if you have more time, make yourself a bigger breakfast.
Midmorning snack.
Lunch, afternoon snack and then a light supper... soup and salad works very well.
view Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings's profile
The randomly selected winner is MayaB. Look for a review in a couple weeks, and for our next giveaway on Thursday. Thanks everyone!
view faith's profile