Get ready for the craziest week ever on Carrots ‘N’ Cake!! There’s going to be a last-time trip, fancy events, a cookbook launch, giveaways, deals, my final Lose the Dough check-in, and a wedding. Oh, yea, and I turn the big 3-0. It’s going to be an interesting (and exciting) week!
Breakfast
I started my morning with OOIAJ made with old-fashioned oats, Mad Hectic oatmeal, dried cranberries, walnuts, chia seeds, and vanilla soy milk.
I also drank some birthday cake iced coffee with soy milk and a splash of carmel syrup (no HFCS). So delish!
Reminder: This is the last week to get the Buy 2, Get 1 FREE deal on the birthday cake coffee!! You know you want to try it! 
Cranberry-Walnut Lentil Bars
I slacked on blogging last night, but I did do some baking! This baking experiment includes red lentils, apricot preserves, peanut butter, walnuts, and dried cranberries. Why not, right?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked red lentils
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F.
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor.
- Coat 8X8 baking pan in non-stick cooking spray.
- Spread batter in pan evenly.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until cooked through.
- Allow to cool before cutting.
- Eat and enjoy!
These bars turned out quite well– they sort of remind me of blondies, but with a tangy fruit flavor from the apricot preserves and dried cranberries. The red lentils add a chewy, moist texture. I’d definitely make them again.
The Early Years
Being my birthday week and all, I thought I’d share some photos from my early days.
Mom and me. I’m just a few days old.
My mom and I were mistaken about the laundry basket. It was actually a dresser drawer.
Happy baby! 
Question of the Day
What’s on your agenda for this week?
P.S. I’m going to New York City later today!!! Gah! 
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I love that picture of you in the dresser drawer! These lentil bars look and sound great. I love how protein-packed they are with the lentils! How did you figure out how to bake with lentils??
Have a great day – remember to relax this week! Sure sounds like a busy one :S
Wei-Wei
Absolutely love that picture of you in a dresser drawre!
This week I am going to try and not lose my mind. The house is a mess, I’m worknig a lot, and my hubby is leaving Friday for a stressful work project for 10 days, so enjoying as much time with him as I can.
ps. also going to get brave and try making my own almond milk and possibly cashew butter.
This week is my last week of work for the summer. Then I go back in September. So it will be busy with cleaning and getting the classrooms ready for next year. Although I’ll still be there Sunday mornings during services, so I will still be “working” I just won’t be getting paid =)
the lentil bars sound really good! best of luck with your big week!
I’m having my third baby tomorrow!!!!!
Wow! Such a crazy week! I am just catching up with friends seeing as everyone is just getting back from college this week.
Haha I love your P.S. I’m going to NYC…you know, no big deal.
Hah, I love how you threw in the NYC trip in the final sentence…have fun!! I’ve never even considered using lentils in baked goods, but it’s such a great idea! Bookmarking this asap
Hope you have a wonderful day!
have fun in nyc!!!! sounds exciting. what a healthy treat!
Awwwe such cute baby pictures!! Have fun in NYC! I LOVE that city. I wish I was lucky enough to say “oh yeah, I’m going to NYC later” like that! haha but I’m much too far away. :\
I don’t have too much planned: triathlon training, working on Vacation Bible School and cleaning the house. Kickball on Thursday, but that’s about it.
I am certainly not going to NYC (wish I was)- to just type what Mary said again.
Can you just rename those bars ‘everything good’ haha they sound awesome
Katherine
Those cranberry walnut lentil bars look amazing! Have fun in NYC!
a bunch of random comments..
1. i love your baking experiments! those bars sound delish!
2. you DO have a crazy week–good luck surviving!
3. adorable baby pics. one of my favorite baby pics of myself is when my parents stuck me inside a giant pumpkin they carved
my week is busy though significantly less exciting than yours!
Haha that picture of you in the drawer is SO cute! You fit perfectly.
Those bars have such a random ingredient list, but they actually sound SO good! I bet the fruit adds awesome flavour.
Love seeing the old pictures! Have fun in NYC!!
Crazy week!! Sounds exciting, though! The bars look awesome! Could you substitute green lentils for red?
Oh you are going to have so much fun in NYC! This weekend my girlfriends and I are staying in Downtown San Diego for my birthday. I can’t wait for this staycation!!
have fun!
What a spectacular week!!! I am so excited =) Yay, for birthdays. ENJOY, Tina!!!
Wow, can’t wait to see all the happenings this week.
What a FUN sounding week!! What’s on my agenda this week…..tyring to get oraanized, preparing for family coming in (Eeek!), and work….blah!
How much of the chia seeds do you put in your oatmeal, and does it change the flavor at all?
Jealous! NYC is way fun – you’ll have a great time (:
Hit up Babycakes if you can for some KICKASS awesome vegan cupcakes!
For some reason, I cannot comment on your most recent post!
I love the Target top and cannot wait to hear about the event. Hope the html fixes itself
That’s hilarious!
Jess : )
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