I occasionally get burned out on my regular snacks and, with Christmas on its way, I'm craving spicy flavors and warm baked things. With visions of gingerbread dancing in my head, I created this granola bar recipe. These wholesome bars are rich in iron, protein, and fiber and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats.

Gingerbread Granola Bars
Makes about 9

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oat flour (process 1/3 cup oats till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts or seeds (I used 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 1/3 cup raisins, 2 Tbsp hemp seeds, 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, 1/3 cup chopped walnuts)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp melted Earth Balance margarine
1/3 cup almond butter
2 Tbsp chia seeds (optional, you can omit or sub ground flax seeds)
3 Tbsp applesauce or canned pumpkin
3 Tbsp blackstrap molasses
3 Tbsp real maple syrup
1 tablespoon water
A little more brown sugar for sprinkling on top (optional)

(Recipe inspired by Smitten Kitchen)

Yesterday I posted a few photos of the romanesco that I received in my last CSA box. I think it is the coolest looking veggie that I've ever seen! I'm a bit obsessed with it, really. The second that I found it in my box, I immediately started taking photos of it...even before I finished unpacking the rest of the fruits and veggies.

Bloggers are weird, right?

You can use romanesco as you would broccoli or cauliflower. That is, if you can bring yourself to cut into it- that's hard because it is so darn pretty! I chopped and cooked this one in a Thai curry sauce and served it with tofu over brown rice.

Here's a recipe from 101 Cookbooks to give you some inspiration: Cilantro Noodle Bowl

With parties and gatherings stacking up on our calendar this weekend, my four year old spiked a 102+ degree fever on Friday. Deep breaths. Cancel. Reschedule. Tylenol. Apple juice. Sleep...

We seem to be just about back on track today and my boy is feeling better, thankfully.

I have been, in the in-between moments, working on my goals for 2011. For 2010, I had WAY TOO MANY goals. Way. Too. Many. I wasn't able to keep track of the list but, honestly, I think the most important things were summed up by my word for the year: CULTIVATE.

GetNatured was born at the end of 2009 and has been growing and evolving organically into something that feels really good. I completed my second and third triathlons in the summer of 2010 and have built new friendships with some amazing women through my moms' group and tri training.

I haven't chosen a word for 2011 yet, but my general themes include having more adventures and more barefoot time (downtime). I want to write more and "to do list" less. I want to have more reasons to take pictures and fewer reasons to stay indoors.

What are your goals from 2011? Did you choose a word for the year?

Aside from creating goals, I know many people are party hopping this time of year and dips, chips, cheese, and desserts abound. Here are three of my favorite recipes that can be eaten with crackers, pita bread, baguette, or veggies or as a salad topper or sandwich filling:

1. Get some sleep. A minimum of seven hours a night (preferably eight).
2. Move. I need to run, bike, swim, or otherwise get my heart rate up at least three times a week (preferably outside) to keep sane.
3. Be social. Bond. Spending time in good conversations and laughing with friends and family is hugely energizing for me.
4. Eat healthy food and drink water. When I eat well, I feel well (physically and mentally). Minimizing sugar keeps my immune system strong and my moods and appetite even-keel.
5. Sunlight. I need to go outside and breath. To get fresh air and feel sunlight on my skin. To "commune with nature". Sometimes my backyard will do. Other times I must (MUST!) drive to the coast and watch the ocean for a little while. (One of my favorite blog posts from the past: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...")
6. Write. Wax poetic or make lists on a napkin- whatever you need. This is an outlet for me. As I put it in a blog post almost six years ago: there are tiny seeds of contemplation dwelling in my soul. Holding onto these thoughts creates a quiet fear of losing them. It is as though they become something valuable and necessary as soon as they arise. Writing them down alleviates my subtle urgency to free them.
7. Yoga. My yoga mat is more thorough than a doctor visit for a check up. I can so clearly gauge my heath and happiness from that vantage. When my balance is good in tree pose, it is a sign that life isn't overwhelming me at the moment. When I can breath freely while holding strong in a triangle, my anxiety is low. When my crocodile is smooth and slow, I feel strong and confident off the mat. When forward folds feel really good, I am happy and content. When I can hold and enjoy pigeon and crow, I am on top of the world.
   

When I yearn for days punctuated by pink and purple sunsets instead of the exhaustion of another routine completed, I schedule a spa day or maybe even get in the car (or a plane) and head for the beach.

Another excerpt from my past: When I’m on vacation, my brain shifts to a different frequency. It goes on brain vacation. I start to tune out the noise of the world and tune into my head space. I pause to ponder simple things in great detail. Like, do I really want waffles for breakfast or would an omelet taste better? Do I want to swim first or start the day by cracking open the first item on my summer reading list? Are gardenias more fragrant in the afternoon than in the morning? I don’t have to have brilliant ideas. I don’t have to ask thought-provoking questions. I don’t have to hurry.

How do you nurture yourself through the blahs?