Rise & Shine BREAKFAST BARS: Gluten free

My man likes a QUICK breakfast...preferable one he can eat IN HIS CAR.  This is a perfect recipe for people like him.  Don't box yourself in...have fun tossing in your own favorite ingredients...nuts, various dried fruits, seeds...the sky's the limit!  Oh, and can I just add...this is the easiest recipe EVER???  Chewy consistency but no need to use a fork.  Just grab it and go!

4 cups of rolled-oats (use GF if you are avoiding gluten!)
2 cups of almond meal (I used Trader Joes brand...you could totally omit and use all oats if you want)
1 cup (or even a little more) of dried fruit (I used cranberries/cherries but you could use anything)
2 cups of unsweetened apple juice (I LOVE Costco brand which is NOT from concentrate)
1/4 cup of sucanat or brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup of agave, honey, or maple syrup (start w/ 1/4 cup and then add more if you want it more sweet)
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup of Coconut Oil melted OR EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 cup of almond butter or organic peanut butter

**OPTIONAL:
1/2 cup UNSWEETENED coconut flakes
1/4 cup of chia seeds or ground flax (I used chia)
1/3 cup of chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
1/3 cup of sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds



1.  Heat oven to 375.  Grease a large 9x13 glass pan or line it w/ parchment paper.
2.  Dump everything in a large bowl and mix.
3.  Spread evenly in pan w/ a spatula.  Bake 30 minutes.  Allow to cool. (you can let it cool in pan)
4.  Cut into bars and enjoy!  A GREAT breakfast-on-the-go or mid-day snack.

Quick Lemon Skin Toner (for any skin type)

Since I'm doing lots of experimentation in my kitchen these days (since going Gluten Free) and not able to post solid table recipes, I thought I'd change it up and post some of my HOMEMADE BODY CARE RECIPES.  Some of these have been collected over the years off blogs or just whipped up with whatever I have on hand in my kitchen.   Good for any skin type.

QUICK LEMON TONER:

2 ounces of lemon juice
4 ounces of distilled water
3 ounces of witch hazel

1.  Combine all ingredients.  Pour into a clean bottle.  Shake well before using.  Apply w/ a cotton ball.
2.  Refrigerate indefinitely.