coconut GROWnola bars

Yesterday I walked into Babies-R-Us for the first time since I can remember.

Holy cow there were a lot of pregnant women.  They were everywhere!  There were women wobbling down the aisles rubbing their stomachs.  Woman testing (falling asleep) in rocking chairs.  Women looking at tiny baby clothes the size of my brothers socks.  There were woman who looked miserable and grumpy and reading to yell at however smiled at them.  There were woman who looked on top of the world – totally in love their baby-bump self.

Then there was me.  Feeling a bit awkward.  A bit out-of-place.  A bit overwhelmed by all this baby stuff!  At one point I was tempted to stuff a pillow under my shirt so I could fit in. I scratched that idea.Before you start wondering, I’m not pregnant.  But it seems that everyone and their mother is.  My friend from college who graduated one year ahead of me is expecting in December.  My other friend from the gym is expecting early next year.

Where has the time gone?!  It still feels like yesterday that I was in high school, too shy to talk to boys – to go to a school dance!  Then, suddenly, friends are engaged.  And married.  And having babies.   The same friends that you used to gossip with in high school.  The same friends who had a crush on the guy in math class.  And science class.  And on the cross-country team.  My reaction:

“You’re getting married??  As in you wedding bells, and vows, and rings, and…?  You?  Really?  Don’t we have homework due tomorrow?”

Someone, stop the clock!  I can’t take this anymore.  It’s too much.  One way ticket to Never-Never-Land, please.You would think that after 5 friends get married and a few announce that they’re pregnant, I’d be used to the news.  I’m not.  You see, I’m the girl who still laughs when someone farts, wears pig tails to work, and thinks pogo-sticks are da’ bomb.  I’m a kid at heart.  Which is why when I see that someone has posted an ultrasound picture on Facebook, I make a complete food of myself.

“Holy crap!  You had a brain scan?  Oh, that’s not a brain scan?  You’re pregnant??  Like baby pregnant?”

It takes me a bit to process that information (10 minutes…2 days…a week…still processing) before I realize it’s really not that unusual.  They are, after all, in their late 20′s, not 18 like I still remember them.  They talk about politics rather than gossip about the hot guys in Chem class.  They’re looking to create a future, not create a project that gets them a passing grade in their Honors English class. You are probably wondering why I’m talking about marriage and babies while showing you pictures of food.  Good questions.  While I would love to buy all my friend’s wedding gifts and baby shower presents, that’s just not possible.  Have you ever been into Babies-R-Us?  After look at some things and doing some quick math (5 jars of almond butter = one diaper bag), I decided this would be the last baby present I would ever buy.

Sorry.

I’m sharing a recipe instead.  Something that can be made when baby comes along and the only thing they want to do is start at his sweet, screaming face.  Something to have on hand when they’re running frantically around the house trying to find the pacifier, because my god that baby can scream.  Something to have on hand down the road when they’re running their kids (yep, there’s more than one now) from school to practice to home for dinner.  Actually, these bars are good to have on hand no matter who you are!  Pregnant.  No pregnant.  Married.  Single.  Young. Old. Grumpy.  Happy.

They’re reliable.  They’re good.  They’re easy to make (no baking required).Tropical Coconut GRWOnola Bars

1 3/4 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup puffed brown rice

1/2 cup coconut

1/3 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped

1/8 cup toasted wheat germ

1/3 cup apricots, chopped

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp brown rice syrup

1/3 cup coconut butter

In a large bowl, mix together oats, puffed brown rice, coconut, nuts, and wheat germ.  Stir in chopped apricots.  In a separate, microwaveable bowl, combine brown rice syrup and coconut butter.  Microwave for 30 seconds on medium to soften, then stir until incorporated.  Stir into dry ingredients until everything is coated.  Pour into a 8X8 inch baking pan lined with foil.  Press into bottom of pan.  Allow to sit for an hour (or put in the freezer for 10-20 minutes) until hardened.  Cut into bars.