Goodies!

Before you think "Oh my goodness, Anne has gone off the wagon and is eating real food again" the answer would be a resounding no. Mom continues to eat very little so I am trying to find some things she will eat that pack a few more calories and have some nutritive value. (At least more than the knock off brand of Oreo type cookies she eats daily)

Son2 and DIL2 make things to have as a snack while they are working. They both carry their lunch daily. Son2 has a set lunch time and can sit at a table and eat. I would not call his lunch time exactly restful, since he eats with all the participants of Independence Place, but it is still sitting and having some enjoyable (or funny or awkward) conversations. DIL2 is a home health care occupational therapist. Her job is a moveable feast with no time for actual feasting. She eats in her car whenever she can grab a few minutes between patients  (really nice on these 100 degree days) and usually grabs some of the snacks from her thermal lunch bag later in the day. I took what they make and altered it to fit Mom's needs.

Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
3 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Stir the peanut butter and honey until it is very smooth. Stir in the vanilla and blend well. Add the protein powder (You might need to add a few drops of water, depending on how creamy or dry your peanut butter is. It seems natural peanut butters vary in oil content) then add the oats and chocolate chips (I forgot to put them in). Mix well, adding a few drops of water as needed.

Supposedly you are supposed to cool it in the fridge until it can be shaped into balls. I did and it was too stiff to maneuver so I had to wait until it was about room temp to roll them. I made them slightly larger than the size of shooter marbles because if I made them golf ball size Mom would gripe that they are too big. Mom has diverticulitis, but if she didn't I would have rolled them in finely chopped peanuts.

I did not eat one but I did get two people to sample them for me and they said it tastes like the center of a Reese's cup. I really do want to try one myself, but I am not going to.

I think I will leave half of them here for TheHub and give the rest to Mom. I know he will like them, and I hope Mom will. The jury is still out!

          *** The peanut butter balls in the above photo are of about 1/2 of the recipe***