How to Make Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

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On our way to a completely real traditional food diet, I’ve been swapping out processed foods with homemade versions. We first started with bread and I’m thrilled to share this recipe for homemade granola bars with you.

I got this recipe from my mother and made a few small tweaks to make it healthier. It’s quick to make and oh so yummy. Pioneering Today Healthy Homemade Chunky Granola Bars www.melissaknorris.com

Pioneering Today Healthy Chunky Granola Bars

5 cups rolled oats (regular, not quick)

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix together dry ingredients. Drizzle liquids on top of oats and mix until the oats are covered and moist. With a large spatula, press granola firmly into a 17×11 pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Let cool 1 hour before cutting and removing from pan.

Don’t use another size pan. The ingredients are carefully measured and altering pan size will alter how these turn out. Be sure to press very firmly on the granola mixture, it should be really flat.

Looking to make the switch from processed foods to a healthy real food diet? Win a copy of Real Food Storage-How To’s & Recipescontaining over 80 real food recipes from Cooking Traditional Food.com

What’s your favorite real food recipe for breakfast? What would you like to replace next?

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Nourishing Pin it Party #4-115 Real Food Coconut Recipes

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Welcome the 4th Nourishing Pin it Party. Each week, I’m sharing my favorite pin in the #1 spot! I started cooking with coconut oil about 2 months ago and I’m loving it. I use it in place of other oils and some butter in my baked goods. So when I came upon this post by Delicious Obsessions at the Pin it party, I couldn’t wait to read them all.

Featured Pin from Delicious Obsessions.com

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Does Homesteading Bring You Closer to God?

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Are you questioning the empty, frenzied paced, and fast food lifestyle taking over our country?

Almost anytime I hear the news these days, there’s a story of senseless death, violence, or crime. I rarely watch it anymore. It saddens me to see these stories and where society seems to want to head.5 Tips to Reconnect with God www.melissaknorris.com

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Giveaway of Real Food Storage-How To’s & Recipes

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Are you wanting to make the switch to more real foods in your diet? Trying to kick the processed boxed foods in your house and families diet? Me, too!

I’ve been a lifelong canner, but we made the decision to start replacing all processed foods in our home with real food or from scratch versions. I haven’t bought bread from the store in almost a year and half since replacing it with my version of No Knead 5 Minutes a Day Artisan Bread.Win a copy of Real Food Storage at www.melissaknorris.com

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Nourishing Pin It Party #3 Featuring Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

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Welcome to the third installment of the Nourishing Pin It Party. I hope you guys are finding awesome new ways to nourish yourself, I know I am. We have three featured pins to share with you this week, and I’ve decided to highlight my favorite of the three as the first pin.

We’ve had an  usual stretch of warm weather here lately, so the no bake and chocolate had me! This first pin is from This Mama’s House. Click here for the recipe and here to repin.

Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies from This Mama’s House

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Does Fasting Help Your Prayers Get Heard?

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Most people have prayed at sometime in their life, whether their Christian or not. When a horrific or scary situation arises, our lips utter a plea to our Creator. It’s may even be just one word. Jesus.

The one word of Jesus encompasses all we need. It is the answer to every emotion or situation we will encounter.Discover the living water for yourself. www.melissaknorris.com

While at Bible study last week, we were reading through The Power of a Praying® Woman by Stormie Omartian, one line stood out for me. We were reading through the list of 5 weapons to fight the enemy and the 5th one grabbed me. Praying and fasting

I’ve seen the Lord work miracles in my life and in those around me. I’ve felt His power, His healing, His forgiveness, and grace. I’ve prayed on my knees, I’ve prayed in bed, I’ve prayed while going about my day, I’ve prayed out loud, I’ve prayed silently, but I’ve never fasted. Continue reading

Why You Should Grind Your Own Flour & Choosing a Mill

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Do you ever wonder about the flour you purchase from the store? While I’ve been baking our own bread for almost a year and a half now, I’ve been using store bought flour. I know our bread is now preservative free, but what about the flour, the main ingredient.

My desire is to be as self-sustainable as possible. I also believe it’s the healthiest way to live. I started researching the benefits of grinding our own whole wheat flour. When you grind a whole wheat berry (it looks like a piece of grain, not a berry), you are grinding the bran and germ into your flour. Because the germ has oil in it, the flour can turn rancid, so it’s removed in commercial flour. But most of your fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are in the bran and germ.Why You Should Grind Your Own Flour & Choosing a Mill www.melissaknorris.com

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Do You Know Where God’s Favorite Place On Earth Was?

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With the increase of social media and online use, I hear many folks worrying about Jesus getting lost in all the noise. I understand this concern. In fact, I wrote an article on why we often miss hearing His voice amidst the clutter of our busy lives.

But I’m about to tell you a different story. Jesus isn’t intimidated by social media. He can reach through anything to bring people together for His purpose.God's Favorite Place On Earth www.melissaknorris.com

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Nourishing Pin it Party Featuring Top 3 Pins

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I had a lot of fun checking out all of the cool pins you guys shared last week. I wish we could feature all of them, but I hope you checked them out for yourselves.

This week, we’re featuring the 3 most clicked on Pins from last week’s party. I’ve been wanting to make my own yogurt for a while now and this Pin gives me confidence to go for it.

Featured Pin #1

Make Your Own Yogurt from Chara of Stitching Hearts Together

Make Your Own Yogurt from Chara of Stitching Hearts Together

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Homemade Refried Beans in 10 Minutes + a Giveaway!!

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In my quest to eliminate processed foods, I’m learning how to make even more of my own food from scratch. Like many of you, I’m busy and some recipes take a lot of prepping or time. I canned up a bunch of our heirloom October beans this fall. I’ve used them in soups, chili, and casseroles, but decided to try them with tacos.

While I love our Tarheel Green Beans, the versatility of October beans make them a close second as my favorite. Like our Tarheel beans, this seed came from North Carolina. If you’re just venturing into heirloom seeds, beans are the perfect intro as you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination or fermenting when saving the seeds.Homemade Refried Beans in 10 Minutes www.melissaknorris.com

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