Weeknight Baking: Banana Bread Granola

Oh my goodness, this stuff is amazing!!  Salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and packing a punch of flavor.  Bonus; it's gluten-free and vegan (if you use agave in lieu of honey).  This made my kitchen smell heavenly, and tasted even better! 

image/minimalistbaker

Lovely Little Reads: The Bear and the Piano

I'm a bit behind on my children's literature postings, but have been much more active on instagram, so if you're interested in following along with our latest library finds, please follow along!

This book was given to us as a gift, but I'm so delighted to have found it!  The Bear and the Piano boasts beautiful illustrations, from dewy forests illuminated by morning light to the dazzling sparkle of the big city.  This book feels like the perfect balance in a children's read; enough character development and depth to be meaningful, but short enough to keep the interest of a 3-year old.  Cha Ching!  Plus the Bear sporting a day-old tuxedo with undone bow tie is just too darling to miss.

Check out this one, it's worth a snuggle and a read aloud together.

image/myphotos

Foodie Roundup

What are you eating today?  Need an idea or two...?

+ holy moly, caramelized onion, artichoke, and jarlsberg dip, oh my!

+ how can you say no to watermelon rose margaritas?

+ toasted gnocchi with parmesan, mushrooms, and basil

+ i've never baked with lavender, but these have me curious to try, blackberry lavender white chocolate scones.  talk about a morning pick me up!

+ banana cream pie doughnuts

+ chimichurri fries with gorgonzola

+ crockpot corn chowder with roasted poblanos

+ another pavlova to write home about, I really need to try one at home

+ I could devour a slice of cardamom apple gallette right now

image/freckledandfree

August Favorites (a few days late)

+ the documentary twinsters (on netflix).  the real life story of two girls who found each other on the internet, and discovered they're identical twins separated at birth.  talk about whoa!

+ harmless harvest coconut water, and surprise, it's (naturally) often pink!  

+ this cross-country family road trip, have you been reading along?

+ about halfway through Padma Lakhsmi's memoir, I've never craved Indian food as much as after reading this!

+ my big fat greek wedding 2 - not quite the original, but if you enjoyed the first one, this will keep you laughing

+ cowboy bark at trader joe's, eager to try out this copycat recipe

+ loving my new (ridiculously soft) tee from this etsy shop

+ pretty much obsessed with chrissy teigen's new-ish cookbook

+ a new (to me) podcast about kids' health

image/thethingswewouldblog