Monster bars

This is my final adjusted version of healthier Monster bars and they are great!
They are not healthy but the best I can do when I need to have a treat in the house, lest I succumb to even worse stuff from the store, heaven forbid!
(Notice there is no wheat in this.)

So here they are:

1/2 cup butter
2 cups rapadura (evaporated cane juice)
about 2-3 Tbps. molasses (I don't measure. Can't go too wrong here.)

Cream together. Then add:

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I used Skippy natural)
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups quick oats
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Gently spread in greased jelly roll pad. Do not push down.
Sprinkle over top:

1 mini package mini M&M's (left over from Halloween!)
(Just enough to make it look pretty but ends up being just one per square.)

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Be careful not to overbake!!

Boy were my kids excited when that came out of the oven today. I have not baked anything for a long time and I was the best Mom in the world all of a sudden!

Pumpkin Pie Dessert

I feel guilty posting this on my nourishing blog since clearly this dessert is not nourishing, but I am not above sneaking the occasional sweet treat. When eating a treat there are several ways to still make good choices (i.e. no hydrogenated fats), choosing homemade over store-bought, if they have lots of sugar its better if they have lot of fat to make the sugar get in your bloodstream faster.....

So here goes a dessert that is to-die for and makes the cut of being worth it!

2 1/2 cups crushed organic butter-flavor crackers (not quite one box)
1/2 cup sugar (I used rapadura)
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups cold milk (I used half and half)
2 pkg. (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding
1 can (15. oz.) solid pack pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press into a greased 9x13. Set aside. In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 min. Stir in pumpkin and spices. Spread over crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Garnish with whipped cream and nuts if desired.

(Source: Taste of Home)

This is a great thing to bring to a potluck or make for a party otherwise you will be tempted to eat the whole thing yourself!!!

(I suppose to make it more nourishing I could make my own vanilla pudding to use in this.)