Water with Apple Cinnamony Goodness

Does anyone actually drink as much water as they should? I know I certainly don’t. When there are so many options of things to drink, water just seems boring. Well, there are easy ways of making it not only more interesting, but delicious. Since it's apple season right now, I decided to make apple cinnamon water.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 1-2 apples
• 1 cinnamon stick 

Yep, that’s it. Just two ingredients. It really couldn’t be simpler. Drop your cinnamon stick into the bottom of a pitcher.

The variety of apple doesn’t really matter, just use whatever your favorite is. I would recommend using ones grown without pesticides, though. My apples were pretty small, so I used two, but if yours is bigger than mine, one should be plenty. Give it a good wash, then cut it into pieces something like this.

Drop the pieces on top of the cinnamon stick.

Ice isn’t strictly necessary, but I like to use it because it helps to keep the apples, which are very floaty, beneath the surface of the water.

Then just fill the pitcher the rest of the way with cold water and place it in the fridge overnight. The next day, you will have surprisingly delicious, apple cinnamon infused water.

What’s your favorite flavor of infused water? 

Easy Peanut Buttery Goodness Bars

I apologize for my absence.  I’ve been traveling, well moving, across the country.  We are temporarily settled in Salt Lake City until we decide on a final destination.  In the meantime, I’ll be posting recipes that I threw together before I left.  Most of them will be quick and easy because I didn’t have a lot of spare time around my packing, and today’s is no exception.  These bars come together in just a matter of minutes.  Then they just sit in the fridge overnight and in the morning, you have a chewy, sweet, salty, peanut buttery treat.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup honey
• 3 cups oats
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla 

Ok, so I didn’t manage to get the salt or vanilla in the picture.  The truth is, I didn’t initially intend to put them in, but decided along the way that they would make a nice addition. 

Here’s a little trick for you.  If you spray your measuring cup with a bit of oil, it will make the honey come out a little easier. 

Now, add the honey to a mixing bowl. 

See, it almost all came out.  Now you can just put the peanut butter in there without even having to scrape it first. 

For the peanut butter, I used a natural one, which had not yet been refrigerated, so it was of pouring consistency.  If you’re using something more conventional or something that has been refrigerated, just warm it in the microwave for a few seconds to make it nice and soft.  You’ll also notice that I’m using a crunchy variety.  I recommend that because of the texture, but you can certainly use whatever you have on hand.  I imagine this would work well with any other kind of nut butter if you have a peanut allergy in your house. 

To that, add the salt and vanilla. 

Stir until everything is thoroughly combined. 

Now it’s time for the oats.  I used a combination of quick oats and old fashioned rolled oats.  Either of those will work just find on their own, but if you have both, the mix makes a really great texture. 

Stir until the oats are evenly coated in the peanut butter mixture. 

Pour into a parchment lined 8x8 pan.  If, like me, you’ve used all of your energy doing something else (I did mention I was packing, right?) and you can’t be bothered to actually lay the parchment neatly in the pan, don’t worry.  Just plop the mixture into the middle of the parchment. 

Then, as you press the mixture down and spread it into the corners, the parchment paper should work itself out. 

Cover this and place it in the fridge overnight.  After that you’ll want to continue to store it in the fridge so they don’t get too sticky.  I was surprised by the fabulous texture of these bars.  They remind me a lot of a chewy, nougat kind of candy bar.  For being so simple, they are amazingly delicious. 

What is your least favorite part about moving?  I'm pretty sure mine is actually the unpacking, but I haven't gotten to that part yet.