Tasty Oasis

Finding Comfort In The Kitchen

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact

Chewy Sesame Granola Bars with Dark Chocolate Chunks

October 20, 2014 By Karen

 

Chewy Sesame Granola Bars with Tahini and Dark Chocolate Chunks are easy to make and are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack| www.tastyoasis.net

 

Have you ever watched your favorite movie or television show and felt envious of the soundtrack that magically enhances the lives on the screen? From the opening credits to a certain character’s theme song, the music changes the mood of a scene and influences your reactions as you watch. Well, my house seems to have a built in soundtrack. Okay, it wasn’t actually installed in 1928 when the house was first constructed, but with the brilliance of modern technology (otherwise known as our Sonos system that Brian controls remotely,) music miraculously pours through speakers all over my house when I least expect it.

Sunday morning, butterflies flew about my stomach as I mentally prepared to run my first ever 5K.  Like I mentioned before, back in July I couldn’t even run for sixty seconds without huffing and puffing and feeling like I needed to collapse.  After years of avoiding it, I embarked on the Couch to 5K program, and consistently trained for the first 9 weeks, working up to running nonstop for 30 minutes, which covered two out of the three miles I needed. But summer ended, the mornings have been dark, life got in the way, and I let my new found exercise routine slide. I’d been in denial that October 19th was just around the corner, the date of our town’s annual 5K. But sure enough it had arrived.

I’d been deep in suds as I attacked the dishes, worrying that I was going to be walking more of this race than I wanted to, when the music started playing and Melissa Etheridge’s “I Run for Life”  pumped into my kitchen. Luckily, I’m married to a man who has the uncanny ability to pick just the right tune for every occasion. And although I’ve loved this song for years, I never would have thought to put it on myself. (Honestly, I’m the one always listening to audiobooks, NPR, and podcasts, and sadly music often falls off my radar.) Have you heard it lately? Well, if you lived on my block you might have heard me belting it out my kitchen windows at the top of my lungs early Sunday, because it changed my whole attitude about the day. Minutes earlier I had been anxious that I was going to disappoint myself, “failing” to run this race the way I originally intended to, but then Melissa reminded me why I decided to do this in the first place…. 

Read More »

Filed Under: Bars, Breakfast, Freezer-Friendly, Sweets Tagged With: Chocolate, Gluten-Free

Brown Butter Brownies with Dark Chocolate Chunks

October 8, 2014 By Karen

Brown Butter Brownies with Dark Chocolate Chunks are rich and chewy and use cocoa powder and coffee to give a deep chocolate flavor, while the few extra minutes it takes to brown your butter gives a hint of nuttiness. | www.tastyoasis.netIt’s 8:27pm, and my big guy begs, “Just one more chapter??” He holds on to my arm and gets clingy, when all day long he’s been too cool to answer my questions or make eye contact. Three minutes to bedtime, and all of a sudden he wants to tell me all about his day and ask about mine, and then, out of nowhere, “Did Hitler shoot himself in the head? Why would anyone do that? I mean, for Hitler… well, I’m glad he did, but why would anyone else do that?”

He’s seven. My son is seven, and I am not ready to have this conversation. On so many levels.

A month or so ago, while reading a comic book with his dad, there was a reference to the Nazis, and Brian did his best to give a basic explanation. But last week he came home from his school library session with a book of historical fiction titled, “I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944,” by Lauren Tarshis.  (Have you heard of this series? Apparently this one was just published this year, but there were eight before it, including “I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001,“ and “I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011.“ You know, light reading.)  Did I mention he’s seven? A seven year old who’s curious, and has a lot of questions.

… 

Read More »

Filed Under: Bars, Freezer-Friendly, Parenting, Sweets Tagged With: Chocolate

Subscribe To Get New Posts Straight To Your Email

Follow Tasty Oasis

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on RSSFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on Pinterest

Share Tasty Oasis

Welcome To Tasty Oasis

Hi, I’m Karen Rose Jacob: a wife, mom, sign language interpreter, and home cook. While trying to juggle a full time work schedule with raising two little boys, I often escape to the kitchen to find peace in a crazy day.  I believe making good food doesn’t have to be complicated, and by learning a few reliable recipes anyone can gain confidence in the kitchen. It’s my oasis, and I look forward to sharing that comfort with you.

Featured Posts

Chewy Sesame Granola Bars with Tahini and Dark Chocolate Chunks are easy to make and are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack| www.tastyoasis.net

Chewy Sesame Granola Bars with Dark Chocolate Chunks

Roasted Green Beans

Quick Tip: Roasting Green Beans

These Cardamom Snickerdoodles are chewy cookies with crispy edges, spiced with smokey cardamom and a hint of cinnamon. They're not too sweet, and are perfect with a cup of chai in the afternoon, or to serve for company at a party.  | www.tastyoasis.net

Cardamom Snickerdoodles

Recent Posts

  • When your whole world, and car, flip upside down
  • My Very Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Whole Wheat Banana Bread with Coconut Sugar
  • Baked Eggs with Sautéed Mushrooms
  • Life Lessons and Julia Child’s Crepes

Recent Comments

  • Debra said Yay, you’re back! Such a great post, so open and h...
  • Dale Rose said Wow, Kar, good to see you back on TO! Really nice...
  • Andrea said Oh, Karen. I know you are surrounded by friends an...
  • Lady J said Great post, so happy you’re back! I am makin...
  • Kellie said These cookies were the best! The group loved them...

Categories

  • Bars (2)
  • Books (1)
  • Breads and Biscuits (7)
  • Breakfast (19)
  • Cakes (2)
  • Concussion Recovery (1)
  • Cookies (4)
  • Cooking Club (10)
  • Crockpot Cooking (4)
  • Dessert (5)
  • Dinner (7)
  • Dressings and Sauces (6)
  • Drinks (5)
  • Fast and Easy (38)
  • Fish (1)
  • Freezer-Friendly (31)
  • Friday Favorites (2)
  • Fruits (1)
  • Healthy Choices (32)
  • Ice Creams (1)
  • Main Course (16)
  • Parenting (1)
  • Quick Tips (1)
  • Salads (1)
  • Side Dishes (10)
  • Soups (2)
  • Sweets (19)
  • The Basics (7)
  • Vegetarian (12)

WHERE I FIND INSPIRATION

Andrew Rose Gallery
Alexandra Cooks
Cannelle et Vanille
Crappy Pictures
Dash and Bella
David Lebovitz
Dinner: A Love Story
Diva Indoors
Doorstep Dishes
Food 52
Gluten Free Girl and the Chef
Joy The Baker
La Tartine Gourmande
London Bakes
Love and Olive Oil
Manger
Orangette
Pastry Studio
Pinch of Yum
Poor Man's Feast
Seven Spoons
Smitten Kitchen
Sprouted Kitchen
Street Leverage
Tartelette
The Merry Gourmet
The Tiffin Box
The Wednesday Chef
The Wine Box Gardener

Find Something New

Brown Butter Cake Chocolate Concussion Fish Frosting Fruit Gluten-Free Indian Jewish Cooking Mexican Oats Parenting Refined Sugar-Free Salmon Spice Mix Turkey Vegan

© 2014 Tasty Oasis, LLC
. All Rights Reserved. · Recipes 
· Subscribe
 
· Return To Top