Tulips and Energy Bites

Tom's sister Marilee visited us this weekend. (She was the first one to sleep on our new sofa!) We took her to La Conner to see the tulips, but I'm afraid we were too late. The gorgeous sunny days of last week were finished by Saturday, and many of the tulip fields were already gone. Still, we did get a few photos from the car window!

A friend posted a recipe on Facebook that I'm passing on to you. It is easy to make, it's delicious, and it packs a wallop! While I was making it a friend of our son came over and I gave him the recipe. He spends time at the gym and thought these would give him a great boost before he starts his workouts. (He went right home and made it himself!) Here it is for you, only slightly modified.

No-Bake Energy Bites

Ingredients

1 cup oats

2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

Method

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into bite-sized balls. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to one week.

Tips

This is the basic idea. You can substitute the peanut butter for any nut butter and wheat germ for part or all of the flaxseed. It is recommended that you do not substitute agave nectar for the honey, as the honey's thickness helps hold things together.

In place of, or in addition to, the chocolate chips, you might try chopped dried fruit, dried berries, chopped nuts, sunflower seed, or other grains. I added raisins.