Everything is Perfect

Just Add Chocolate

Written by MaryEvelyn

Perfect…is in the eye of the beholder.  A masterpiece is drawn by a great artist.  One thousand people walk by the display in awe of the masterpiece.  The great artist is standing in disguise close by so as to hear all of the wonderful remarks being made by the people.  One person comments  on how perfect every stroke of the brush is.  Another whispers,  “genius “ and another says, “brilliant .” The positive comments continue to roll off the tongues of the people.  As the great artist turns to walk away feeling quite accomplished he hears, “ not quite my cup of tea, the brush lines are too straight.”

The great artist reflects to him self how he anguished over the lines for months.  With just one comment he felt the value of his work diminish.  He felt less accomplished and that his painting was flawed.  The painting later sold for twice of the amount that the artist had hoped for.  He reconciled with himself that perfect is in the eye of the beholder and nothing has to be perfect to be perfect.  From that day forward, he promised himself to paint with the enjoyment of creating and to no longer put the energy towards perfection but instead towards the love of the feeling that he held while always creating from within.

Although baking is a new found art for me I already feel and acknowledge that indeed perfect is in the eye of the beholder.  I want so much for my new form of art to be perfect yet when I am beating, stirring and adding all of the ingredients then putting the mix in a pan or on a cookie sheet then finally pulling the finished product out of the oven…I am always amazed at what I call perfect.  No matter what the finish product looks  like, I proclaim loudly…PERFECTION!!

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Recipe:

2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup whole almonds coarsely chopped

1/3 cup pure honey

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dries cranberries chopped

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. I lined the bottom of a 8 by 9 inch pan with aluminum foil (or you can use parchment paper) for later.

Add the oats and chopped almonds to a small baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Stir then bake for another 3-5 minutes until lightly toasted.  Transfer to large bowl.

Now make the bars…

Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Cook stirring occasionally until the butter melts, the mixture bubbles and the sugar dissolves.

Pour the butter mixture into the bowl with the toasted oats and almonds.  Mix well then let cool for 5 minutes.

Stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips.

Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pan and press it into the pan firmly using a rubber spatula.  Press hard for about one minute so the bars will stay together once they are cooled and cut.

Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Then remove the block of granola mixture from the pan and peel away the foil or parchment. Cut into bars.

These bars turned out really well and they were just as chewy as I wanted them to be.