Gluten-Free Autumn Amaranth Bars

I had a moment yesterday where I questioned what I was doing.

What if, what I do doesn’t matter?

I know it matters.

But sometimes.  Sometimes.  I wonder.  That’s what being isolated does to you.  At home all day with the kids with no loving husband present.   And right now it’s just Hyrum & Salem.  Asher & Mali are still away with my mom, visiting family.  So it’s me, the seven year old, the eighteen month old, and, the dog.

Did I mention we’ve had a dog for the past month?  Kind of on loan from my brother.

This dog ought to be renamed Trouble.  Cute, I’d say adorable, perhaps a bit sweet, but trouble, nonetheless.

Here’s the rundown of our month together:  he caught & killed a baby squirrel, molested a rooster, did his business on our carpet (several times).  Since he’s been under my sole care for the past week while my mom’s been out of town, he’s run away a few times.  He chewed up Hyrum’s baseball glove & jump rope.  I’ve caught him chewing up Salem’s dirty diapers (don’t ask how he got those).

Hyrum, who has wanted a dog since he could talk, now has had his wish come true, but he says he’ll take a cat now, thanks.

Things I’ve learned from this dog:

1)  Dogs are like toddlers.  Cute.  They have personality.  They need & want love.  Therefore, they require a certain amount of attention.  A bit more than say, a houseplant.

2)  As long as I have a babe in diapers, or a toddler, or anyone under the age of 5, I don’t want a dog.

3)  Unfortunate, because Salem really loves this dog.  She toddles around after him, batting his tail, saying “come, come!”  She feeds him, wrestles with him, gives him kisses & snuggles into his fur.  It’s rather adorable, but I have to be honest with myself, several children + a toddler + a dog is not something I think would be good for my mental state.

Oh yes, another naughty thing he did:  he ate the leftover dessert from the other night.

Amaranth autumn bars.

I made them for a family get-together on Sunday.

There were a few leftover, so when I came home I brought them into the kitchen, along with a beautiful white salad bowl & set them on the counter.

I left the kitchen to take care of the bed time routine–PJ’s on, teeth brushed.  I was working on Salem’s teeth, & mid brush, I hear–crash!  I ran upstairs to find the guilty culprit (the infamous doggy) staring at the broken salad bowl & upturned pyrex pan.  All of my autumn bars, gone.

I don’t want to flatter myself (because who does that, anyway?), but they must have been pretty darn good.  For a dog to figure out how to snatch some off the cupboard & gobble them up in less than 10 seconds.

They are good, & taste like autumn.

I was inspired by this recipe, but then when I realized I didn’t have any more canned pumpkin (blame it on my current pumpkin pie smoothie addiction), add the fact I wanted to use some amaranth flour I had on hand, I decided to go the experimental route.  That can be a dangerous route to go, especially since I was strapped for time, & this was going to be for a family gathering.

I decided to go for an apple theme, because, how can you go wrong with apples?

Plus, I’m living in apple country right now & we’re in the thick of apple season.  Lots of apples to be had.

I made two versions of the bars.

On Sunday night I made version 1:  amaranth & oat autumn bars with “cream cheese” frosting.  Version 2, I made last night for another family get together with Joseph’s side of the family: amaranth & oat gingerbread bars with coconut milk glaze.

Both night’s these bars had to compete with store bought cake.  Hyrum & Salem had seconds of my bars, then thirds (I know, what kind of parent am I?!).

I had approximately 5-7+ servings last night alone.

Point is, these are good stuff.

Trust me, okay?

(And be a good reader & follow the directions.
Otherwise don’t come crying to me, that your bars didn’t turn out.)

Coming up:  Second installment in series on homeschooling.

Also, looking for more healthy, allergy-friendly, vegan & gluten-free recipes?  Check out this week’s Wellness Weekend, where this & many other recipes are shared.

♥♥♥

Do you have a dog?  Dog & kids?