White Chocolate Macadamia Granola Bars

In early celebration of World Math Day (which is this coming Wed. for those of you desperate to know,) Sebastian and I went to Arithmeum, the museum dedicated to Mathematics.

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It was really fun playing with the hand-cranked machines to solve calculations. Fascinating to see what people used before calculators! Maybe I’m a dork, but I would go back.

Last night I regressed to middle school hurt feelings. As I mentioned earlier, I was really looking forward to go to a colleague/ friend’s house for dinner and drinks last night. When I called to see if there was anything I could bring, I was told, “Oh yeah, I was just about to call you Kendel.  So we all went out last night and are feeling a bit rough today so I might not have people over after all. I’ll call you back later to let you know.” Well, needless to say, I was not called back. My feeling were really hurt since I had been looking forward to hanging out with my work friends all week. I wasn’t even invited to go out on Friday night. The thing that really sucks is that it wasn’t only the guy who organized things who could have called me and didn’t, it was at least 4 other colleagues and friends who either didn’t think about inviting me or decided not to. One think that is difficult about living as a teacher abroad is that your colleagues also play the role of friends and family. They are all I have here beside Sebastian. It really hurts to feel like my friends and family chose not to include me.

Poor-me aside, I had a really nice evening with Sebastian. We decided to go out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant called Tacos. Apparently we’ve been in the Mexican mindset for a week. Mexican restaurants are certainly not common in Germany, but in one week we’ve been to two such restaurants and created our own at home.

I had veggie fajitas and a margarita.

Drinks were half-price so I also treated myself to a mojito and pina colada. Enough alcohol for a month.

Before heading home, we stopped at the only bagel place in Bonn, just before they closed. It must have been our lucky day because we were able to but 12 bagels for the price of 6. The extras are chilling out in the freezer.

Breakfast was a blueberry bagel and cream cheese. Taste of home!

After breakfast, it was gym time! A year and a half ago, I attempted the step aerobic class at my gym. My German language skills were far too low to keep up with the fast pace of the instructor, putting myself at risk for injury with every 2-step-behind-try-to-catch-up-cheat. Luckily, I left the class with my pride being the only hurt thing. Today, I decided to brave it again and had a really great time! The instructor was so cute and energetic. He explained what was coming early enough for me to translate and make the correct step. By the end of the class, my body had produced more sweat than it did while running a half-marathon.

Wow, what a great workout!

After the class, I walked on the treadmill for 15 min. to cool down then relaxed in the sauna, took a shower, ate and apple, drank an herbal tea, and headed home.

I came back to an almost immaculate home- Sebastian had been busy while I was away doing dishes, vacuuming, mopping floors, emptying the garbage, tidying up, and scrubbing the bathroom. Of the HUGE mess we had created over the week, all that was left for me to do was change the litter boxes. He really is amazing, but I sometimes feel really guilty that he does most of the house work!

Once the place was spick and span, I started cooking.

Late lunch was German Aldi’s take on a flatout flat bread, topped with mushrooms, red onions, red peppers, and goat’s cheese.

Cooking commenced with restocking my almond butter supply.

From nuts… to butter!

Thanks to the little food processor that could!

Since the oven was already on to roast my almonds, I decided to attempt a new granola bar. I’ve been drooling over Luna’s new White Chocolate Macadamia bars, but unfortunately, they are not sold in Germany.

The answer to my dilemma? Make it myself.

White Chocolate Macadamia Granola Bars

1 ½ c. rolled oats

½ c. spelt flakes (or equal amount rolled oats)

½ c. wheat germ

½ c. packed brown sugar

½ c. macadamia nuts- roughly chopped

100 g. white chocolate, shaved

¾ c. dried cranberries, unsweetened

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 t. cinnamon

¾ t. sea salt

1 flax egg (2 t. flax stirred into 2 T. water)

¾ c. honey

½ c. apple sauce

1 T. canola oil

1. Mix the dry ingredients well.

2. Create a well and add the wet ingredients. Mix well- hands work best!

3.  Pat evenly into a greased 9×13 cake pan. Bake at  350° F (175 C) for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

4. Cook, cut, and enjoy!

Sweet and crunchy!

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