A little splash of raspberry sunshine.

So today, I woke up... like most days, for anyone..... right now... and I asked myself.

"What am I going to do today?"

On a normal day... that would mean, get up, get dressed, get the girls ready, and get out the door (Make sure they eat breakfast, put the little ones pants on 40x... because she keeps stripping down as soon as I walk away. One crying because she doesn't like the way her shoes fit... you know toddlers).

Rushing to daycare, to get back and get to work baking cookies, cakes, and desserts each week. - Now don't get me wrong. I miss this! I miss the hustle, I miss seeing my kids face light up when she scored a basket at her game. I miss dinners at my moms house.

But... the most beautiful thing about "you know who" - I got to wake up this morning, and ask myself ...

"What am I going to do today? What can I bake that will make people happy? What can I do to brighten up my kids days? What can I do with my girls today?"

So while this collective issue we are going through is hard, and it's a struggle some days, or all days.... I challenge you to get up today, and ask "what am I going to do today?" Even if its something small. Do something, anything that will make YOU happy today.

I like to bake.. what makes you happy?

Without further ado... Raspberry Oat Bars.

They are super easy, and you don't need any fancy equipment! No mixer needed. The recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare and 30-35 minutes to bake.

Makes 12 Bars.

What do you need to grab at the store ?

Fruit Filling

2 cups of Raspberries (fresh, frozen, or a different fruit all together)

1/8 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp cornstarch

Oat Bar Crumble

1/2 cup Salted Butter (melted)

1/2 cup Sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 cup Flour

3/4 cup Rolled Oats

What do you need to do?

For the Filling :

- In a sauce pan, add the berries, sugar, lemon juice, and bring to a boil over high heat, making sure to stir often, and scrap down the sides to incorporate the sugar.

- Once you have the raspberries bubbling away, reduce to medium-low heat, and add the cornstarch. Stir immediately to combine, and let simmer for 15 mins.

*while you are waiting for it to simmer, start on the Oat Bar Mixture, but don't forget to keep a close eye on your simmering fruit.

Preheat Oven to 350

& line an 8" x 8" square pan with parchment paper.

For the Oat Bars :

- Use a large microwave safe bowl, melt the butter for 30 seconds intervals. It takes about 1 minute to completely melt the butter.

- Once the butter is melted; Add the sugar, vanilla, and whisk until combined.

- Add the remaining dry ingredients; Flour, Oats, and blend together with a spatula until combined. Mixture will have some larger pieces of crumble, and some will stay in a sandy like texture.

- Set 3/4 cup of the mixture off to the side, to be used for the top layer of the crumble.

- Take remaining Oat Bar Mix, and press it into an 8x8 inch square pan,

- Next you will be adding the Raspberry Filling. Keep in mind you want to try to keep the filling from touching the edges. To do so pour the filling in the center slowly.

- Then take your remaining Oat mixture, and sprinkle it close the edge, and on top.

*to make larger crumble pieces, squeeze the oat mix in you hand before crumbling it on top of the raspberry filling.

Once done; place in the oven for 30-35 minutes.

*you will know it is done when the oats and filling in the center are set and golden brown.

- Take out, and let cool on a wire rack for 2 hours. Allow it to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Thanks for reading - let me know if you have any questions

Don't cha need some S'more recipes?!

yeah... that was cheesy. In times like today, I will take all the cheesy, the humor, the practical jokes (as long as no one gets hurt!) & pretty much anything to make me smile.... we got to just keep moving smoreward.

Lets just dive right in, and try something today ; I don't know about you, but I LOVE camping. I love SMORES, I love barbequing on an open campfire. I love sitting under the stars, those beautiful clusters of light, way up in the sky while my girls sleep in a nearby tent. Seeing as I cannot be in a provincial park sleeping under the stars right now... smores are the next best thing. Or in this case ; SMORE Squares.

Fun Fact ; I do sell smore Squares through-out the year, but more commonly during Christmas time in my Classic Cookie Boxes at Christmas!

What do you need?

1/2 Cup Salted Butter

1 large Egg

1 Cup light brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

2 cups Crushed Graham Cracker Crumbs

1+1/4 Cup Mini Marshmallows

1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (or any chocolate you like)

What you will need to do?

PREHEAT THE OVEN to 350

- First off, Melt that Butter! Place the Butter in a heat-safe bowl, and place in the microwave for 30 second intervals until melted.

- In a medium sized bowl, whisk the butter, egg, brown sugar, and Vanilla together until well incorporated.

- Once blended, fold in the flour, and Graham Cracker Crumbs, until combined. It will be a thick cookie dough like texture.

- Take 3/4 of the dough and press it into a 9X9 Pan.

- Place in the middle rack of the oven, and bake for 10 minutes. & then its time to add the extra yummies

- After baking for 10 minutes, sprinkle the marshmallows, chocolate chips, and break up the leftover cookie dough ontop.

- After baking for 10 minutes, sprinkle the marshmallows, chocolate chips, and break up the leftover cookie dough on top.

Happy Baking

Pretzel Bites

So I have typed out this recipe already... and it completely deleted right as I was about to hit post.. Soooo I'm typing it again - but super simplified because it took forever and I just want you guys to be able to make it! LOL

Ok, WHAT DO YOU NEED?

1 Cup Milk

5 Tbsp Butter

3 tbsp. Brown Sugar

1 package Instant Active Yeast (2+1/4 tsp)

2+1/2 Cup to 2+3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

1 tsp fine Salt

1/4 cup baking Soda

3/4 tsp coarse salt

What do you need to do to make this delicious snack happen?

- Warm Milk & Butter in the microwave until just melted, do not boil the milk Heat in 30 second intervals.

- Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved

- In a Mixer (with the paddle attachment) blend flour, salt, and dry yeast, blend for 1 minute.

- Gradually add milk mixture to the mixer, once the dough starts to come together, switch out for the dough hook and add the rest of the flour.

- Once combined, roll into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, cover with saran wrap & let rise for 1-3 hours.

- Set Oven for 450

- mix the baking soda with 1+ 1/2 cups warm water and set aside

- Take dough ball out and cut into 6 pieces

- Roll out dough into a long tube about 20-24" long

- Dip your rolled pretzel dough into the baking soda solution, and dip off excess liquid

- Cut your rolled pretzel dough into 1-2" pieces

- place on baking sheet with parchment paper, or lightly greased

- Sprinkle with Kosher Salt

- Bake for 8-12 minutes (until golden brown) at 8-10 minutes take out and lightly brush with melted butter and sprinkle a little more kosher salt on top.

Take out and let cool for 10 minutes and then enjoy!