So let’s do a life catch up. Mainly just stuff that’s happened in the past few days.
-Saturday morning we headed over to the beer/wine supply place to buy a new kit to brew some raspberry ale. To our surprise, the guy gave us quite a few generously poured samples of various wines he had made at his house. They were all fantastic. But he was pouring them fast, so we had to drink faster. Awesome, I got buzzed for free. PS: so excited to try our first home-brewed fruit beer! They’re my fave.
– We then headed over to check out the grand opening of Community Natural Foods in our neighborhood. There, we lucked out with some free sausage samples, so it helped with the wine consumption.
My opinion of the store? Definitely better than the other local natural foods store, but still not even CLOSE to a Whole Foods or TJ’s.
-Saturday night was a long-planned date night. First stop: Saltlik for dinner. I had been to the location in Banff a few times, but we found that the downtown location had a different menu/ambiance/etc. Not as spectacular (only because the downtown spot doesn’t have scalloped potatoes! ha) but the steak was still fantastic.
We finished dinner a bit early, so we walked over to another pub and had a few drinks. Then..
– Cirque De Soleil! The tent in Calgary was for the show Amaluna. Tyler had never been to a Cirque show before, but I have seen some in both California and Vegas. I didn’t care for this show as much, but it was still entertaining!
– We concluded the night with a stupid scary movie that I thankfully didn’t get any nightmares from.
-Sunday, we added a new member to the family- Reggie!
Reggie is a 4.5 year old Beagle (maybe half pocket beagle). He wasn’t ever in a foster home or shelter, but his doggy mama had to find a new home for him since her son was allergic. We totally lucked out because it is super good- potty trained, obedient, friendly, no health problems. His mama even gave us all his beds and toys and leashes and food and treats.
So far, so good. He only barks when people are out front or the doorbell rings (same as Layla). And they have been getting along really well. Lots of quiet play, lots of lounging on the patio, and lots of cuddles and treats. Of course, both dogs now have their designated spots on the bed which just so happen to be immediately on either side of me. I was mummified in the sheets last night!
Only catch is his love of sitting on top of the couch. Still need to figure out the best solution of covering the leather so he doesn’t wear or tear anything.
I told Layla to blink once if he can stay in the house with us. This was her response:
I think that’s a yes.
Ok, now onto a really yummy recipe.
SO..I knew I wanted to bake something this morning, but the challenge was to figure out what exactly I could make that didn’t include chocolate or brown sugar as an ingredient (I was fresh out of both and didn’t couldn’t jet to the store since I was in between 2 phone interviews). I fuddy-duddied around the kitchen for a few minutes before deciding on this delicious concoction:
Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars (adapted from this recipe)
They’re great because they contain all good ingredients, they’re quick and easy to make, and they keep pretty well (in freezer). Not only that, but the ingredients are substantial, so each bar will satisfy any hunger craving. This really yields about 8 bars, but since it was my initial go with the recipe, I played with the edges before I took any pictures.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 bananas
- 1 c oats
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup coconut
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts (I made a mixture of walnuts, macadamia nuts and cashews and pulsed in the food processor a few times)
- 1 t vanilla
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- dash of salt
Here’s what you do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper
2. In a bowl, mash bananas. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
3. Place mixture in baking dish. Evenly spread and press down.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Allow dish to fully cool before cutting.
5. For additional convenience as a quick snack, cut squares and individually wrap in plastic wrap.
This recipe is definitely a keeper. I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, plus it’s a satisfying and handy snack!
Question: Have a go-to handy snack? Is it something you make or buy??
nutcaseinpoint 
I’m so glad you adopted Reggie so he didn’t have to go to a shelter 🙂 He is an adorable addition to your family, and it really does look like Layla approves!
unlike layla, he eats whatever’s in site, so we can’t leave food around like we used to!
Reggie is so sweet. Glad you were able to take him!! Buddies now! Where is that new Community? I LOVE cirque shows – how fun! And I adore that scarf you are wearing at dinner. So pretty.
it’s in crowfoot, right cross from Rona..next to the new Hudson’s
I have these sriracha peas (kinda like the wasabi ones) I just discovered for a fun snack and they are delish! Party in my mouth.
Love your hair in that pic and the scarf! Looks like a fun date nite 🙂
sriracha peas!!!!????? Man, I would probably eat those till I exploded.
Aw, Reggie is so cute!
I’m always in the market for an easy bar recipe (especially the mashed banana kind) and this one look awesome. Just wondering: was there supposed to be oats in yours? I saw you have Oat in the title but I didn’t see them in the ingredients list. Thanks!
haha good catch! I totally forget to include the most important ingredient in the recipe! I have updated it now…thanks!!!
Which reminds me- we still need to start our newest wine. Don’t want to run out or anything! That would be bad! I also have to send you the Wine picture thing.
I’m so excited there is a Community in the NW! I was just at Amaranth on the weekend.
Love your scarf! I need more springy scarves.
I’m going to try these bars. Look and sound so good.
Congratulations on the newest addition to your family. Reggie looks like a sweetie. How about putting a throw blanket on the back of the couch to protect it? Or just train him to stay off it? We have this air compressor thing for our cat that we put on the counter and it shoots out air and keeps him off. The bad part is that it goes off whenever we walk by. We bought it at the Pet Planet I think.
What kind of wine do you make? We were thinking of starting a batch of raspberry peach sangria for the summer.
I can’t wait to see what Community has for their hot bar selection- it was empty when we went.
We’ve tried putting blankets up, but they slip off the leather super easy. His previous owner let him up on furniture, so it hasn’t been easy keeping him off. The air thing would just make ME play with it if we got it. I am easily amused haha
YUM! those bars look amazing and so easy. Totally making them:) and, what a cute little snuggle pup!
they’re super good…and filling!
and reggie is the bomb dot com. two pups couldn’t get along any better!
YOU GOT A DOG, OH MY GOD HOW EXCITING!!! I would give almost ANYTHING to buy a sweet doggie, but with my college student lifestyle, it’s just not going to work. Oh well. One day…
My first apt out of college had a huge fee for dogs, so I couldn’t afford one, but as soon as I moved, I got Layla and it’s the BEST. EVER.
now with two…it’s still the best…just a bitter furrier! haha
We have this community Market too that I prefer going. Nothing like Whole and TJs too.
I wonder if that Restaurant Saltlik is similar to Saltlick I went too in Austin, Texas. It’s also a good steak house. I haven’t watched any Cirque De Soleil. I see them advertised in places I visit but I never get a chance to see them. Maybe I should next time. 🙂 It seems like, it still cold up there in Calgary. 🙂 Looking at your pic, you are still wearing heavy coat and scarves. 🙂
I like making my own go-to snack. Specially when we watch movies. I hide it in my bag. (hush hush). LOL! I’m just not a fan of food you get in movie houses. 🙂
Definitely try to make a Cirque show! They are so unique and amazing!
I NEVER buy movie theater candy- always sneak in snacks and water 🙂
Your new doggie is so cute!! I got my second dog the same way…..his owner needed to find a new home for him since she was getting deployed (although she never deployed and I think she just didn’t want him anymore….). Congrats on your new addition though and I know he will bring lots of good memories to your family!!!
thanks! we’re excited to have him! It’s great because our first dog is a rescue and she is very timid, and he has already brought her out of her shell and they play together!
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