No-Bake Strawberry Oat Bars

Prior to finding this recipe, I had never eaten a date.  Not that I can recall, anyway, and given my new-found love of them (due solely to this recipe) I think I would have remembered.

There's really nothing easier than this.  Combine the following in a food processor and pulse it until it combines:

• 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
• 1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts
• 2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats

Once combined, press the mixture into a baking dish.  I used my square Pampered Chef baking stone.

Then top the whole thing with thinly-sliced, hulled strawberries.  And chill.

The recipe didn't call for chilling, but I liked these cold.  Mine also could have used more strawberries, but I didn't care.  These were wonderful.  And you know how they were best?  Crumbled up over frozen vanilla yogurt.  You're welcome.

I'm going a little off-script with my fashion in this post.  I have a (BIG!) birthday coming up, and the H claims he has no idea what to get me.  I suggested this:

Alexander McQueen via Neiman Marcus

I feel like there's a hole in my wardrobe that can only be filled by one of these beauties.  I also have a hole for Louboutins, though, if we're being honest.  Wish him luck, peeps.  He may need it!

Quickie Friday: Black Bean Salsa

Sometimes, I just need to be able to throw something together in less than 5 minutes to fulfill a craving.  This dip was created in just such a moment.

I combined a can of Rotel tomatoes (the habanero, because I like the extra heat) with a can of drained and rinsed black beans, three garlic cloves, and lime juice in the food processor.  I pulsed it all together until I liked the consistency, added a little salt and white pepper to taste, and that was it!  Easy peasy - and it looks much more complicated than it is.

As do these . . .

Prabal Gurung for Target

I have loved some of the Target collaborations (and loathed others) and while I haven't had a chance to check this one out in person, these shoes lead me to believe that I would fall on the loving side.

Energy Balls

This recipe for no-bake energy bites (which I prefer to call "energy balls," given my affinity for ball-shaped foods) thrilled me the moment I stumbled across it on pinterest.  With my minimal modifications I can assure you, peeps, that these will become a staple in my house.

I went with reduced-fat, creamy peanut butter in place of regular, wheat germ in place of flax seed, and chopped dark chocolate in place of the mini chocolate chips. 

I brought some of these into work, and they were as big of a hit in the library as they were at home.  The F has even requested them since, which is definitely a success, in my book!

I think that I'm going to request a pair of these, and see what happens.

Christian Dior via Bergdorf Goodman

I am quite certain that there is not a single person in my life who would grant such a request, but it may be worth a (long) shot.