[WINNER ANNOUNCED BELOW]
Sunday, I was walking Phoebe (5) and Soledad (8) from the car to the softball field.
It was a little wet, and a little muddy, but the ground was sturdy and the wind a little breezy. I walked about 10 steps ahead of my girls, hurrying to get a good spot on the bleachers.
One step in front of the other.
Step over a rock.
Bypass the candy wrapper.
Hop over the huge hole in the dirt.
Only I think I must have been so mesmerized by the hole that I actually stepped into it, and clipped the edge of a concrete slab that was nestled to the side of the huge a** hole.
As I was falling, I could see the puzzled look on my children’s faces, the spectators seated in their fold out chairs wondering if I would actually fall or catch myself. So now I’m falling, and I think I can grab onto a nearby pole, but it’s too far, so I just fall. Knees, bone into the concrete, scraping the hard rock surface as if they were sandpaper. It hurt so bad that I dropped onto my butt, rolled onto my side, and then just let go of all abandon and rested on my back.
I think sometime during the fall I must have closed my eyes.
When I opened them, my children were standing over me alarmed.
About 10 people were seated in their lawn chairs staring at me like I did that on purpose, and one nice gentleman, got up and gave me his hand to help me up.
I was bleeding, gross sandy, muddy, juice.
My husband showed up 20 seconds later, noticing my muddy backside. “What happened to you?” Uff.
My knees felt like a torch of fire was being held against them.
And all I could think about is, I hope I can stand long enough to make it home and make these Pumpkin bars.
“Oh God Please. Make the burning stop just long enough for me to get home and make the Pumpkin bars.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
It’s two days later and my knees still hurt. BUT I MADE THE PUMPKIN BARS.
Yes, I did.
That’s how good they are.
And I think its fair for me to say they are healthy, as long as you don’t eat the entire pan.
IT HAS A WHOLE CAN OF PUMPKIN. So you’re eating your vegetables WHILE you’re eating dessert.
And chocolate.
The good dark healthy kind! The kind that you are supposed to eat EVERYDAY!
And oats. You know those are wholesome.
And my favorite part. . . .
instead of sugar. . . .
Pyure. And Organic All-Purpose Stevia sweetener. From nature.
- zero glycemic index
- calorie free
- gluten free
- sweetened with Pyure organic stevia and Pyure organic erythritol
- 2 X sweeter than sugar
- Non GMO Project Verified
Just one bite, and you’ll forget you are bleeding to death from scraped knees and pure embarrassment.
I should really be mortified.
I think my kids are.
I’m hobbling around my house, I can barely make it up and down the stairs without whimpering.
But I do feel better now.
Now, that you’ve let me vent.
And I’ve had my pumpkin bar(s).
So, you know, if have something this wonderful, I need to share.
SO. . . . .
Because I love you. . .
And because my knees hurt. . .
though the bleeding has stopped and a tournaquit has been applied. . .
I’m still in sound enough mind to know that YOU and ME are about to enter the HOLIDAY SEASON. . .AND WE’D LIKE BOTH OUR KNEES AND OUR BUTTS TO BE IN TACT.
Our knees are covered now. . .
but our butts. . .we mustn’t lose control. . .
so. . . . . . .
I’M GIVING AWAY ONE PYURE ORGANIC STEVIA SWEETENER PRIZE PACK to one lucky reader who answers this question in the comments section below . . . .
“What is the last thing you did that embarrassed you?”
One comment per reader please. Misery only loves so much company.
Prize pack will include Pyure Organic Sweetners All Purpose Blend and Tabletop Sweeteners. Learn more about Pyure here. . . http://www.pyuresweet.com
The Pyure Organic Stevia GIVEAWAY will end October 20th, 2014 at midnight CST. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 21st, 2014. Entrants limited to US and Canada. They will be chosen randomly using http://www.random.org/
Good Luck!
—————————–
AND THE WINNER IS. . . . .
Oatmeal Pumpkin and Dark Chocolate Bars
inspired by a recipe I found on Pyuresweet.com by Cooking for Bimbos. My version of the recipe has more oats, almost triple the pumpkin and a smidge more chocolate. Cooked in a casserole dish, and cut into bars, it’s just the thing you are craving this time of year, but not something you have to feel guilty about.
Oh! And one more thing! I first tried Pyure in May. And its been a favorite in my tea since the first day I tried it. The taste is sweet, without the bitter flavor of most stevia sweeteners. I think it can be a great addition to families that want a little sweetness and want to be conscious about their health as well.
Ingredients:
8 oz. of Light buttery spread (like Smart Balance) OR 2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 cup Pyure Bakeable Blend Stevia
1 egg
15 oz. Canned Pumpkin
2 cups Quick Oats
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
3 TB Ground Cinnamon
1 bag of bitter-sweet OR semi sweet Jumbo chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 X 9 inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and Pyure stevia. When the mixture is light and fluffy, add the egg and pumpkin and beat well to incorporate. Add oats, flour, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Mix well. When the mixture is thoroughly blended, fold in the bag of chocolate chips.
3. Pour into 13 X 9 pan. Smooth so that the batter is evenly distributed to the corners. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top and edges become slightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
4. Cool. Cut. Enjoy with a glass of cold chocolate milk!
