{first} YOU are all amazing. The comments from yesterday, about my 1st blogiversary, were so incredibly sweet. I enjoyed hearing how long you’ve been reading and things you’ve liked along the way. Next week I’ll have a post [or posts] about the year in review. Stay tuned! I think it’s about time I revamped my “about me” as well.

{second} Remember my blog post for the Fresh Express salad challenge the other week?? Well, I WON!!!!!!!! I could not believe my eyes when Foodbuzz let me know. I couldn’t be more excited, especially because I never win things like this! Now I get to put up to $1,000 towards airfare + hotel for the Foodbuzz Festival next week! This is a huge help for our current 1 job family! :) Soooo excited.

{third} Last Friday was Pat + Natalie’s 4th wedding anniversary. I got a little creative this year for their gift. FOOD! Inspired by a few things that have caught my eye lately….

Apples. They’re in season. Obviously. How to turn apples into a gift?

Slice them really thin, bathe them in lemon + water, and then pat them dry.

Sprinkle sucanat [or brown sugar] + sea salt + cinnamon on top…line them on a baking sheet, or in this case a pizza baking sheet.

And bake them on 175*-200* for what seems like ALL DAY LONG.

If after 4hrs, you start to get impatient…you can put the temp up to 250* for the last 15-20min. They still seemed a bit soft, but turned out to be perfectly crispy once they cooled.

Thanks to Angela for this Apple Chip idea! I mean, who doesn’t like sweet, salty + cinnamony apple chips???

Another Angela inspiration….

Healthy truffles!

Take the peanut butter cookie Larabar and then imagine it tasting 10x better and you will understand how good this taste. I made them according to Angela’s directions.

theyaresofreakinggood!!!

I also made the Brownie Bliss flavor.

Oh these were good!! Definitely breakfast worthy too. I definitely want to try the “Pecan Pie” truffles next…I am a pecan lover!

I also melted some super dark chocolate…

…and got to dipping + sprinkling.

coconut
chia seeds
sea salt
walnuts

cute + healthy + delicious + homemade = gift perfection

Pat pointed out that I forgot to make a map saying which was which….maybe next year…

Angela shaped hers much cuter to look like actual chocolates.

I had fun with this..if you couldn’t tell. :)

Package 2, complete!

But I wasn’t finished yet….

For as much of a peanut butter freak as I am, I’m not the biggest lover of peanut butter cookies. However, Mama Pea had my convinced that I must make her Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies right away.