I know I have been a bit AWOL.
I hope these homemade Twix bars make up for it.
+
Life update
Wow.
It has been a minute. I have really lagged on this whole blogging thing and I miss it so much, but I had to take a break. A break that came out of nowhere, a very impromptu break. So much has happened in the last two(ish) months since I last wrote and posted. Two months since my last recipe testing day.
I miss aimlessly strolling the grocery store aisles for hours (or way too fast) and being in the kitchen trying to get creative.
To lighten the mood of this sad and happy post I will throw in some pictures of these Paleo & Vegan Twix bars because twix are the BEST they are drool worthy I promise you!
How does that sound?
Great, I hope!
Something I am so beyond grateful for is having the opportunity and ability to care for my grandparents with my family for the last five years. I was so lucky to have the absolute best grandparents any kid could ever want. They had so much love for their grandkids it wasn't even funny. When my Papa passed away in September of 2015 the focus was solely on grandma, AKA Magra AKA Ladybug. Magra had very little recollection of Papa's passing, moving into her new home and much more, but this ladybug had spirit, the strongest heart and was a fighter.
This past July (2018), Mags contracted a pretty severe case of pneumonia. We all surrounded her in the hospital for almost a week until she decided it was time to go see Papa again. I think we thought that was fair. She had been almost three years without her hubby and I think it was time she got him back! Don't you think?
Magra really fought for the past 3 years with the biggest and strongest heart that anyone could ever have. She had some great days and some really bad & hard days, but no matter what kind of mood she may have been in that day, her face always lit up when she saw one of her "people".
I am SO lucky to have been one of her people. <3
Before life was really happening, like really really happening, we had been planning our (Christopher, the boyfriend & I) move across the country to Denver from Northern Virginia. Finding new jobs, apartment hunting, saving money and all the fun stuff that comes with moving across the country. I landed a job, had a start date and planned to be in Denver at the beginning of August, but life happened and that is OKAY!
However, I am happy to report we did make it to Denver mid August, moved into our apartment next to a beautiful, massive park that Chris and I could walk around for hours in this beautiful Colorado weather. We are so grateful for the help of my parents for making this move seamless and helping us drive out West, which made the trip that much more fun.
I am so happy to finally be in a brand new city with my love and our little Cat, Finn. With endless things to do, the mountains just a short drive away and the insane food scene that Denver has to offer.
My next step is to convince the fam to head West too, which shouldn't take too much convincing. So, Mom, Dad, Jake, Sandy if you are reading this take the hint!
I hope with some career changes I am able to find more time to put into About to Sprout, because I am so passionate about this work. It brings me an insane amount of joy and I hope I am able to continue to create content that you all love and want to see more of.
And, if you have any recipe requests that you would like to see let ya girl know!
PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER!
Paleo + Vegan Homemade Twix Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Layer
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
- ⅓ cup coconut oil solid
- 3 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Caramel Layer
- 1 cup dates
- 1 cup cashew butter or any nut or seed butter
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 1-2 tablespoons warm water for smoother texture
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Chocolate Layer
- ⅓ cup coconut oil melted
- ⅓ cup cacao powder
- 2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9x5 loaf pan with oil or parchment paper.
- Add all shortbread layer ingredients into a medium sized bow and with your hands cut the coconut oil into the dough until its becomes cookie dough texture.
- Press into prepared pan making it an even layer.
- Bake for 10 minutes just until slightly brown and remove and put in freezer to cool and keep cool.
- In a food processor add all of your caramel layer ingredients and blend until smooth, or preferred consistency.
- Add your caramel layer evenly onto your shortbread and put back into freezer while you make your chocolate layer.
- Melt your coconut oil and whisk the remainder chocolate layer ingredients into your oil until you get a smooth glossy chocolate.
- Pour the chocolate over your caramel layer and place back in freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour or until completely solid.
- Once solid, using a very sharp knife cut your Twix into rectangles or your desired shape!
- Sprinkle with some sea salt or drizzle some extra chocolate on top and enjoy!
You make my heart smile sooo big as I think about what a wonderful person you have become.....so proud of my girl!!!