Chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars and things

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
• 1/3 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup chocolate chips, semisweet, bittersweet or milk

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch baking pan and set aside.
   
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and oats.
   
• In a large bowl (or in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), cream together the butter, peanut butter, granulated and brown sugars until light and well-mixed, 2-3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until combined.
   
• Stir in the dry ingredients, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips and mix until combined.
   
• Press the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly browned on the edges. Don't overbake or the bars will be dry! Remove the pan to a cooling rack and let the bars cool in the pan before cutting into squares.

From: Mel's Kitchen Cafe Blog

 

I made these last Friday. Two words: easy and delicious. This recipe will become a keeper.

 

I’ve been reading The Shell Seekers. Although one of my favorite author’s, it’s a book I’ve only read twice before (I think). It’s a cozy read, perfect for now when I’m feeling so restless. However I know now why it’s not my favorite book from Rosamunde Pilcher; the main character, Penelope, drives me a bit batty. We are opposites. She’s unorganized, late, cluttered and scatter brained. Quite lovable, an excellent cook, but maddening none the less.

 

It’s been raining incessantly here. I mean really raining, great puddles and flooded ditches and high river warnings. When it’s not raining it’s still grey and cold. I’m ready for sunshine, leaves on the trees and temperatures in the 60’s! And I’m getting impatient.

 

I took one of the cats, Brutus, to a groomers this week. I’ve never been to a groomer in my life and the thought of having a cat groomed seems hilarious. However he has so much hair we are at our wits end! It’s a good thing he is such a sweet and lovable cat or he might have found himself hard pressed and living on the streets long ago. As I typed this he popped up right beside me in the chair to purr and keep me company. I must say he looks much better and the hair shedding has somewhat abated. 

  

Otherwise we are playing the great waiting game. It seems surreal. We could become parents tomorrow or in three weeks. Reality has not yet hit, nor will it until I’m in labor I don’t think. It seems strange even thinking about that, being in labor. I’ve taken to vacuuming and wiping down counters and running loads of laundry every day just in case I go into labor! Heaven forbid the house is all out of order. I’ve made Jared promise to make our bed and load the dishwasher before we leave for the hospital if I’m incapable. He thinks I am insane.

 

I’m really looking more forward to my Mom visiting in a few weeks. That is something I can anticipate and actually wrap my head around. I hope the rain has eased off and it’s warmed up by then. her visit has become synonymous in my mind with Bean having already arrived. Bean, don’t let your mother down! 

 

I am getting more and more curious to know what on earth Bean looks like and if it is in fact a He or a She… I hope they are relaxed like their father and love to sleep at night.

The end of September

I finished one of my favorite books last week, September. I read it every fall and despite trying to read it as slowly as I can I’m always so disappointed when it comes to an end. I love it. Read it.


 

Last Thursday J and I went out to the club for dinner. It’s a pretty spot right now because there are so many trees on the course and the leaves are changing. We had steak to eat. It was lovely.





This weekend was quiet. It thundered and rained from Friday until sometime over night between Saturday and Sunday. So we stayed indoors and watched football. I made a big batch of chicken stock with the remains of a roast chicken. And I baked brownies this weekend. We missed church because we were up late watching the Ohio State v. Wisconsin game (we won!) and I forgot to set an alarm. But we did make it to small group Sunday evening.





J is busy this week, he has to fly every day. He starts his office job next week.





I’m busy doing laundry today. I don’t mind because it means I can sit and read between loads. And it’s a good day to read because although it’s not raining, it’s grey and chilly and gloomy. The pictures of the trees changing colors are from this morning. I thought the dark grey/blue sky was a pretty backdrop. The picture of the blue sky is one I took last week before all the rain came.





And of course some kitty pictures. I need to stop taking so many pictures of them! But they’re just so darn cute.





Tomorrow I have Bible study in town at church and a Spouses’ Club board meeting. Errands to run. Busy, busy.

I can’t believe that it’s almost October…

Beyond the move

Life does still continue even amidst the total upheaval and rearranging of our own little home. I know I said I’d post more new house pictures, but I’m still waiting on just a few more projects to get done and then I will finish sharing pictures. For now, how about some non-move related updates.

North Dakota is pretty amazing during the summer. Abundant sunshine, lush green surroundings, and for the most part perfect temperatures. I took the first shot driving from town to the base a few weeks ago. Perfect summer evening. And then there is my first farmer’s market haul of the season. In August… the not so perfect part about summers here I suppose. But they do have some mighty fine sweet corn up here.


J’s squadron had a change of command recently. Part of it was getting to see inside the hangers, his plane, the squadron and the shelters where he works. Most of what he does is hush, hush and so there aren’t many pictures and I highly doubt I saw anything very important. But here are a few shots from the hanger and of the plane. It’s a lot bigger than I pictured, so big in fact I couldn’t get the whole thing in any one shot! 
  
And now I apologize in advance. The following are cat pictures. An embarrassing amount of cat pictures. I’m typically the person who on Facebook gives people who post frequent pet photographs virtual dirty looks and telepathic snide remarks. At least I’m posting mine mainly on instagram and my own personal blog space.   

Our Sunday