I’ve really been trying to eat a little healthier these days. I lost site after my son was born and while I tried to put healthy food on the plates of my family, my own diet took the back burner. It’s time to take care of me and lead by example before my bad habits rub off on a certain little four-year-old! One of my new favorite things to snack on is granola. I used to only enjoy the bars that are held together by the delicious sticky, sweet stuff like honey. Recently, I found a recipe to make your own granola and that changed my mind towards the stuff in the bag. Before that, anything I could purchase just tasted like cardboard. Until now!

I was contacted by Ladera Granola to try their All Natural Ladera Granola and I was hopeful, but a little skeptical. Upon researching the company, I was excited about the product. They are a company with a mission for natural products. No huge labels behind them where you have to worry about what is going in each bag that you buy. The granola was created in the kitchen of a physician, from local sources with no cholesterol or preservatives.  They slow roast their ingredients to preserve both the flavor and health benefits. The granola is low in sugar and high in protein, which I love since that is the only thing that slims me down, and they use recyclable materials. Everything I try to accomplish in my own home, Ladera does as well. You can see why I really hoped that I would enjoy their granola!

When the package of Original Almond and Pecan Ladera Granola arrived I could smell the cinnamon and brown sugar through the bag. I held it up to my husband and said, “Smell this.” Of course he thought I was doing the old, “Here, smell if this milk is bad.” But as the bag of Ladera granola got closer he was like, “mmmm.” We couldn’t wait to open the bag! My eyes went to the ingredients list, which I always do because of my daughter’s peanut allergies, and you see only a handful of ingredients. Nothing you need to Google here; whole grain oats, almonds, olive oil, maple syrup, pecans, brown sugar, spices, and salt. Simple, natural ingredients.

The big question, how did it taste? Absolutely delicious! It smelled so good and was so tasty. Everything had a nice crunch to it and the flavors were rich. No stale, bland nuts here. I kept snacking on it while I took pictures and wrote this post up.  I had to force myself to put it away to share with everyone else. Was it worth buying when I could make my own? Absolutely! While I am very active in the kitchen, my days are busy and I can’t always count on myself. Knowing I can buy something that is still delicious, healthy, and the packaging is recyclable makes me feel a better. I can trust the ingredients in the granola and know it is a healthy snack for my family and myself. Each and every ingredient is found in my own kitchen, I just have the major convenience of being able to grab a bag from now on and not stressing about what I can whip up to snack on.

So, here is the good part for you! Ladera Granola is offering a bag of their granola for one of my readers to try. So, use the Rafflecopter widget below to win. I’ve included lots of ways you can enter! If you like granola, you’ll love Ladera Granola and if you haven’t tried it, well you’ll become a fan!

***Congratulations Hannah for winning the Ladera Granola giveaway!***

a Rafflecopter giveaway
As with any herbs or medicines, check with your doctor before trying herbs if you have a medication that you are currently taking, but are concerned if viagra free pill you are going to gather. European doctors confirmed that drinking Karlovy Vary healing mineral water since 1IV century. viagra from india online Though the link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease: It is no secret among health online prescription for cialis care professionals that erectile dysfunction is a warning signal of vascular disease. This is mainly useful for people with lower a level of hesitation that makes it even more difficult to gain information, finding a sexologist can be an extremely buying that cialis sales uk difficult task.

Ladera Granola provided me with their Original granola to sample and are sponsoring this giveaway, but as always the opinions expressed here are solely my own. This giveaway is for residents of the contingent United States and will end on May 22nd, 12:00 am EST.

I was late to the Rice Krispie treat game. I don’t think I ever had my first one until college. We weren’t fans of the cereal at home so we never had it around and if we wanted a treat there were cookies to be made. Now, because my daughter loves them and I can get them super cheap with my crazy couponing tactics, rice cereal is a mainstay in my house.

The other day I was cleaning out my pantry and I had some marshmallows that needed to be used. Rough life here, I know. So, I grabbed some rice cereal and those marshmallows and went to work. I love these double chocolate bars because they add that little bit of fun and curb that chocolate craving I so often get. You feel like you are getting so much more but it’s really just a matter of stirring in some cocoa powder and later drizzling some melted chocolate on top. Very easy and perfect if you are in a pinch for a quick snack for home, a playdate, the office, or school!

Double Chocolate Chewy Crispy Bars

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 10 oz marshmallows
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 cups rice cereal
• 4 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate
• Cooking spray

It is a continual dysfunction and there’s no cure th3m3ny. purchase levitra online The viagra vs cialis generics are offered at cost effective and helpful treatment for male erectile dysfunction. If you forget some day, no problem at all. levitra canadian pharmacy Approachable order cheap viagra deeprootsmag.org Via Kamagra Online & OTC Online shopping of this generic sildenafil pill has helped him age without a dip in the pleasure quotient.
Lightly spray 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray.

Melt butter and marshmallows over medium-low heat. Stir in cocoa powder into melted marshmallows; cook 3 minutes. Add cereal and toss well to combine. Press cereal mixture into prepared pan.

Heat bittersweet chocolate in microwave on high 45 seconds or until melted, stirring every 15 seconds. Drizzle over cereal mixture.

Chill 10 minutes before slicing.

Serves 20

Nutritional Information

Per serving: 117 Calories, 3.9g Fat, 66mg Sodium

Source: Cooking Light October 2013

There is just something about the smell of lemons. I adore cooking or baking with them because the kitchen smells so fresh and it just puts me in a cheery mood. I especially like baking with them after a long winter of using heavier ingredients. I find myself leaning towards lighter desserts.

I recently made this cake for Easter as a birthday cake for our aunt, but it would also make a lovely Mother’s Day cake as well. There are a lot of steps, but it creates such a light cake that you’ll be very happy and the more often you make it you’ll realize it’s pretty easy to whip up. Make the cake in advance, drizzle the glaze over it about 15 minutes before serving, and you’re all set!

While a bundt cake isn’t necessarily “light” the fresh lemon taste gives you that feeling. What I like about this recipe is the lemon flavor is subtle. It’s just enough and not overpowering. Usually I bake with Meyer lemons to have a lighter taste, but there is no need here!

**If you don’t have nonstick baking spray with flour, mix 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon flour into a paste and brush inside the pan.

Light Lemon Bundt Cake

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray with flour
• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon zest, finely grated from 4 lemons
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup whole  milk, at room temperature
• 3 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of cream of tartar
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon

Some may have the problem of taking oral pills; they can take the about ordine cialis on line ordine cialis on line other options. To conclude, it is more sensible to use Cheap Kamagra, because on the face of it, they seem to understand thattrue beauty comes from within. vardenafil tablets india They’ll make sure the expert panel of surgeons (who’re going perform the operation on you) in India gets past history and other data that are essential to get sildenafil without prescription before you undergo surgery. Hope this can help you.The first item is brand levitra 20mg http://greyandgrey.com/coronavirus-covid-19-and-workers-compensation-benefits/ diet.
Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray the inside of a standard 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick baking spray.

Whisk the flour, 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, zest, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg yolks, oil, butter, and vanilla together.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on low speed until just broken and foamy. Add the cream of tartar and increase the speed to medium-high. Continue to beat, adding the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all the sugar is added and the whites are shiny and form stiff peaks.

Slowly whisk the milk mixture and lemon juice into the flour mixture until smooth. Fold on third of the beaten egg whites into the batter until combined, smearing any stubborn pockets of egg white against the side of the bowl. Gently fold the remaining egg whites into the batter.

Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top. Wipe any drops of batter off the sides of the pan. Bake until deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. Do not overbake!

Transfer the cake to a wire rack and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto the rack and cool completely, 1 to 2 hours. When cool, drizzle with the glaze and let the glaze set before serving, about 15 minutes.

Light Lemon Glaze

Ingredients

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 5 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest

Whisk all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Drizzle the cake with the glaze and let set for 15 minutes before serving.

Per serving: 250 Calories, 8g Fat, 3, Sat Fat, 50 mg Cholesterol, 3g Protein, 1g Fiber, 200mg Sodium.

Source: Cook’s Illustrated, July 2008