And yes, another natural peanut butter based, oat, and chocolate chip cookie recipe. (I recently published my recipe for GF Peanut Butter Oat chocolate chip coconut Cookies on this site.) And these cookies are not that much different except that this recipe is not gluten free and it’s a bar cookie. I love bar cookies. The older I get, the easier I want to make life for myself. And I thought you might find that to also be true for yourself.

So, when I looked for a healthy bar cookie recipe, this delightful ingredient assembly from the heynutritianlady.com site jumped out at me. I did add salted peanuts to the mix and changed up the prep instructions a bit, but other than that the recipe remains true to the original. And the fact that this recipe is very quick and easy to prepare didn’t hurt either.

So, enough said. The bar cookies are very good. And I can eat one without feeling guilty, which for anyone who is trying to bring their A1C numbers down, is a wonderful thing.

I am fortunate. My numbers are almost normal again since I stopped taking prednisone. But even so, I am going to continue eating like I have diabetes because, well, I’m no longer a spring chicken. I have advanced to the plucky old bird category. And as such, I need to continue paying close attention to what I put in my mouth. And for a foodie like myself, it ain’t easy. But nothing worthwhile has ever been easy. So, why should growing old be any different!

I have had such a wonderful life. I’ve never experienced hunger or had to worry about a roof over my head or how I was going to pay the electric bill. Of course, times were lean when I was younger, but there were opportunities galore when I was in my twenties. I can’t say the same for young adults who are starting out today. Things are different now. And the way our democracy is headed, I’m actually glad I’m old. I don’t like the direction in which our country is headed. Or the complete disregard some of our government leaders show for ethical behavior or empathy for one’s fellow man. Who allowed these spoiled toddlers, in the guise of men and women old enough to know better, to ever attain enough significance as to be able to display such hateful and narcissistic behavior as we are witnessing in our country today? And why aren’t more people incensed by this caustic and erratic behavior? I know if any one of these people were my kid, they’d be hearing from me on a daily basis. And it wouldn’t be to tell them they were doing a great job! I would be letting them know I was mortified by what they were doing, saying, and exemplifying! And that there would be no more Christmas goodie packages until they cleaned up their act! Period! And BTW, GO TO YOUR ROOM!!   

How did we ever get to this place? Were most of us just too busy living our wonderful lives to notice what was happening to our world? If that is the case, then I have no one to blame but myself. Because I sure didn’t see it coming. I was simply content to happily drift along and assume that all was perfectly fine because I lived in this wonderful democratic country. Well, that may not always be the case.

So, if you too are bothered by what is happening in our country, please vote in every election that comes along. For most of us, the only way we can truly make a difference, is by casting our ballot for individuals who have the greater good for everyone uppermost in their political agenda.

Peace and love to all.

1 c. natural creamy peanut butter 

½ c. coconut palm sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ c. whole milk    

1 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp.  baking soda

¼ tsp. kosher salt

1 c. rolled oats  

¾ c. dark chocolate chips

½ c. salted peanuts  

Butter a 9×9-inch baking dish. (Glass is best.)   

Mix the peanut butter, coconut sugar, vanilla, and milk together in the bowl of your stand mixer.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add the rolled oats, chocolate chips, and peanuts.

Pour over the peanut butter mixture and mix all together just until thoroughly combined.  

Scoop and press the dough into the prepared baking dish.     

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the bars are lightly golden on top and set. Don’t over-bake.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.