Currently Snacking On + Tropical Granola Recipe

Food is one of my favorite topics.  I love when I find new foods and snacks that I really love. I wanted to share a few things I am currently snacking on.

Please share any favorite snacks you are loving.

Roots Hummus

I mentioned the Lima Bean hummus the other day but I just picked up the Mango Sriracha and man is it good.

Harris Teeter Falafel Chips

These are so crispy and tasty.  My new favorite chips to dip in Hummus.  The sea salt flavor is actually my favorite but these Chili ones are really good too.

Noosa Coconut Yogurt

This yogurt is so good.  Yes I know it has lots of sugar but I love it. The coconut flavor is amazeballs (yep I am bringing that word back). I have been making big batches of my tropical granola (recipe below) and I serve that over the yogurt for the tastiest breakfast.

Mooncheese

These cheese bites are addictive.  They carry them at some Starbucks and Harris Teeter.  You can also find them on amazon.

Italian Black Truffle Almonds

They sell these in small individual packs at Starbucks.  They are a perfect nibble if you want a snack.  They are salty and the truffle flavor is so good.

Amazon carries the bigger container of them.

Boom Chicka Tropical Bites

This stuff is addictive.  Matt can polish off a bag in one sitting. 

They carry this at Target along with a few other flavors.

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Here is my granola recipe I mentioned yesterday.  I tried a few different combos and this one is our favorite.  I make a batch once a week. You really can use any dried fruit and nut combo that you like but we love this one.  It has a tropical flavor that is so good paired with yogurt.  Once you make homemade granola you will never want to buy store bought again.  Best part this has no sugar in it only natural sweeteners like maple syrup and honey.

T R O P I C A L  G R A N O L A 

-4 cups rolled oats

- 1/2 cup slivered almonds

- 1/2 chopped pecans

- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

- 3/4 cup coconut chips

- 1/3 cup olive oil

- 1/2 cup maple syrup

- 2 tablespoons honey

- 1 tablespoon vanilla

- 1 tablespoon cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 cup diced dried pineapple

- 1/2 cup diced dried mango

In a large bowl mix oats, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds and coconut chips.  

In another bowl mix together olive oil. myple syrup, honey and vanilla.  Pour this mixture over the oats and nuts.  Add in cinnamon and salt and stir all together.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the oats evenly over it.  Bake at 350 degrees about 30-40 mins.  Stir batch every 10 minutes.  Frequently check on it while it is cooking because the nuts can burn quickly.  

When oats have crisped up remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes.  

Pour in bowl and add in dried pineapple and mango.

Raspberry Crumble Bars

 

I have been wanting to make these bars ever since my girlfriend brought them over to our house a few weeks ago.  They are ridiculously easy to make, like it took me maybe 10 minutes to whip them together.  They are soooo good.  The Raspberry Jam, paired with the granola, almonds and shortbread is pure heaven.  Sterling loved them, they were a huge hit with the whole family. 

This recipe is from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Fool Proof, which so far is one my favorites cookbooks she had made.  Every recipe I have tried in it is amazing!  You will love these bars until you eat like 5 of them and wish you hadn't made them because you can't stop eating them!  (true story over here). Enjoy!

{RASPBERRY CRUMBLE BARS}

½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
10 to 12 ounces good raspberry jam, such as Hero
2/3 cup good granola without dried fruit
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed just until combined. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla.

Sift the flour and salt together and, with the mixer on low, slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing until it almost comes together in a ball. Turn the dough out on a board. Lightly pat two-thirds of the dough evenly on the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan and about ¼ inch up the sides. Spread with the jam, leaving a ¼-inch border. Mix the granola into the remaining dough with your hands. Break the dough into small bits, and distribute it on top of the jam, covering most of the surface. Sprinkle the almonds on top. Bake the bars for 45 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cool completely and cut into 9 or 12 bars. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

Favorite Beach Snacks + My New Swimsuit

First off, I had several questions about the dress I posed yesterday.  I am wearing a size 4 for those that asked about sizing.  It is a generous fitting dress so order your actual size or go down a size.  Yes you can wear a bra with it, I wore a strapless bra and it worked perfectly.

 

Happy Friday, I am not gonna lie, I am a bit sad as today marks our last day of vacation.  It has truly been a wonderful week with perfect weather and I loved spending so much time with my family.  These are memories that I hope my children hold dear like I do.  I will definitely share some pictures from our trip next week. Today I wanted to share some of our favorite snack foods from our beach week!

\\ SPROUT FRUIT AND VEGGIE CHEWS- the kids love these.  They are a mix of vegges, fruit and rice.  Super healthy but tasty.

\\ YUM-A-ROS- another kid favorite, they are dried banana, mango, and pineapple, they also come in other flavors.  Us adults loved them too.

\\ BEAR NAKED GRANOLA- Delish granola in milk, on yogurt or just for snacking

\\ SASS PINOT GRIGIO- a refreshing pinot even Ramona would love:)

\\ 479 WHITE CHEDDAR AND BLACK PEPPER POPCORN- seriously delicious popcorn

\\ COCO CAFE- This is a mix of coconut water, espresso, milk and vanilla, mocha, or chocolate.  You drink them cold and they are so good.

\\ CARRS CRACKERS- Love these thin crackers to serve with cheese

\\ TAPAS CHEESE SELECTION- all three of these cheese are so tasty and best part they are sliced in thin strips already for serving purposes.  So easy to just to place out with crackers. You can find this pack at Costco.

\\ PLUM CHUTNEY- This comes from Whole Foods and we served it with the goat cheese log for a killer appetizer

\\ GOAT CHEESE WITH HONEY- This goat cheese with honey is one of our favorites from Trader Joes

\\ FIG SPREAD- we also served this with the goat cheese and crackers

\\ KRAVE BEEF AND TURKEY JERKY- This beef jerky is truly the best beef jerky I have ever had. It is so tender and the flavors are awesome.

\\ DARK CHOCOLATE POWER BERRIES - the perfect sweet bite for a snack.

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I have to share the most perfect swimsuit I found.  I have a hard time finding swimsuits I feel good in, that make me feel comfortable and confident.  After two kids I just don't feel awesome in a bathing suit anymore.   I still wear a bikini sometimes, but for the most part I just feel more comfortable in a one piece and its easier for dealing with kids.  When I tried on this bathing suit it was love at first sight. The pattern is so gorgeous and the cut out sides give it just the right amount of fun without being too much.  I am wearing a medium for those curious about sizing.  Added bonus it is reversible so you can wear it as a plain black suit too.  It is on major sale right now so get it while you can!

\\ Mara Hoffman One Piece

 It also comes in pink which I equally love.
Shop pink here.

This bathing suit has really made me fall in love with Mara Hoffman and her fun patterns.  A few other Mara Hoffman favorites and many are on sale! 

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Thoughts For Thursday

Happy Thursday!  One more day til the weekend! 

I am especially excited because Charleston is supposed to have some cooler temps!  Matt and I were just saying we may have to light up our fire pit and sit by it one night for happy hour.

I could not stop laughing at this picture of Frances Moon with her book bag.  It's a big as her.

Wearing Tea Collection dress | Glitter Toms | Backpack

A gorgeous new boutique opened here in Charleston on King Street called Beckett.  I stopped in yesterday and was really impressed.  They carried several lines I had never heard of but loved and many favorites.  They had so many great classic pieces.  Plus the interior design was beautiful.

If you are in Charleston looking for a good lunch spot check out 5 Loaves.  They have a location downtown and in Mt Pleasant.  I always forget about this place but I took the kids to eat lunch here Monday and it was so good.  I love their mushroom quinoa salad paired with half a sandwich.

I love this Free People Blouse so much I bough the white version too.

Today is the last day to get it 25% off.  I am wearing XS.  Use code INTHEFAM25.

 In case you are wondering what I bought from the Shopbop sale, here it is:

T-Bags Dress | D.Ra Blouse (in yellow)

 Free People Blouse | Splendid Booties

I also wanted to mention my Mara Hoffman Sleeveless dress is now back in stock in the grey color.

I am wearing XS.  It is a great year round dress.  25% off until tonight:)

The new Thug Kitchen Cookbook just came out and it is awesome.  I flipped through mine last night and marked so many recipes I want to make.   Lots of good snack food and party grub which I love.

Speaking of books I just finished the Luckiest Girl Alive and it was so good.  One of the best books I have read in awhile.  Thank you to all who recommended it to me.  What should I read next?

I snapped this picture of the kids last night before bed. They were being so sweet just giggling and hugging.

Wine with a view.

 In case you are wondering who takes my pictures on the blog sometimes- meet my neighbors Rick and Gary.  We just adore them:)  We had them over for Happy hour last night and a golf cart ride.  They specialize in wedding photography but also do kids and family pictures too!  

My newest Obsession is homemade granola.  It is so much better than store bought.  I will share my recipe tomorrow!

Truth.

Sterling is always brutally honest with me:)