1. New sweet treat we made…
Unfortunately, I have a sweet tooth. Because of that, I am constantly looking for healthier sweet treats. This week, we found one. They are Chocolate Date Nut bars. They contain (as you might have guessed) a base layer of pressed dates, almond butter, chocolate, and nuts. No baking required. We made some this week… and by “we” I mean Lana 😂. They are delicious! The chocolate we used was Lilly’s dark chocolate baking chips, which are stevia-sweetened. “We” will definitely be making more of these. And thanks to our daughter, Marin, because she found the recipe, made them first, and turned us on to them. Here are the basic steps for making them (you may need to tweak to your liking)…
You will need:
– 12 oz. container of dates (We used Medjool dates.)
– Almond butter
– One bag of Lilly’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
– Chopped nuts of your choice (We used pistachios, almonds, and cashews.)
– Sea salt
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the dates in half and remove pits, then place them face down, close together, on parchment paper. Press down/flatten them with a rolling pin or some other object.
Spread almond butter over them just enough to cover the surface.
Put them in the freezer for an hour or two until the almond butter is firm.
Melt one bag of Lilly’s chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a pan.
Spread the melted chocolate over top of the almond butter-covered dates. Use a spoon or spatula to spread evenly and cover completely.
Sprinkle chopped nuts and sea salt on top and place back into the freezer for a couple of hours.
You will want to take them out of the freezer and cut them into pieces, then put them in an airtight container and back in the freezer to store. That’s it! Enjoy!
2. Concerning drug ad I heard this week…
The U.S. is one of two countries that allows pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs on television. It is one of the things that I really hope will be banned as America pushes toward better health. I am always amazed as the voiceover on these commercials lowers in tone and rattles off possible side effects, many of which are worse than the condition being treated. This week, I think I heard the worst one yet. It’s a drug for prostate cancer, was one minute long, and more than half of it was LOADED with warnings. At the 27-second mark, he says that the drug “involves contact with radioactivity, which may increase the risk for cancer and cause fetal harm.” Yikes! A drug for cancer that may cause… cancer??? He goes on to inform that the drug “can cause low levels of blood cell counts, kidney problems, and infertility.” And he encourages you to “tell your doctor if you have weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, bleeding or bruising more easily, an infection, or changes in urination.” As if that’s not enough, he then says that side effects may include “tiredness, dry mouth, nausea, appetite loss, and constipation.” And.. there is a disclaimer at the bottom of the ad stating that, “These are not all the risks…” You MUST see through the carefully crafted marketing, bright colors, actors laughing and smiling, and see these drugs for what they are. The benefits are amplified, and the risks and shortcomings are minimized. And if you have to “ask your doctor” for a drug, you need to find a new doctor! I’ll post the 1-minute commercial below if you want to see it for yourself…
3. Instagram post that caught my attention this week…
This was posted by @alpha_leaders on Instagram.
***Collecting toys NOW!***
Our 27th Annual Toys for Tots drive runs from Monday, Dec. 2nd through Friday, Dec. 6th, but we’ve started collecting toys early. Consider donating a new, unwrapped toy. Every year, we collect a TON of toys, and with your help, we are striving for our best year ever. Please help us help others! See the flyer below for details…
