2012 You have Been Good To Me

Pin It Now that 2013 is here I think 2012 deserves a little recognition for being such an eventful and adventurous year.  2012 definitely had it's ups and downs, but for the most part it was a great year.  Here's a look at a few (ok maybe more than a few) of my favorite memories:

WINTER 2012

I celebrated the new year with some amazing friends.  What a night!

Early on in the year, I changed my major. Again. This time I know I am on the right path. I still can't figure out why I wanted to do anything besides being a dietitian, but I know God had a plan in mind when he brought me to Winona. I have meet so many awesome friends here. What is even more awesome is how much closer to Jesus I have grown because of them all. God has blessed me in so many ways this year I can't even begin to list them all.  This is a picture I photoshopped for a video I made a friend a few years ago.  I thought it was very fitting for this. :P





I started a new chapter in my life titled "My Twenties." I feel so old saying that I am in my "20s". Yikes. Where has the time gone!? To celebrate a few roommates and I took a trip to Rochester to do a little shopping and go out to dinner.

I can't forget about my trip to cheer my sister on at state either!  Love that girl.

 

SPRING 2012

This past spring my family and I went to Puerto Vallarta for spring break.  This was by far the best vacation I have ever been on. 

Another "first" of 2012 was my adventure tandeming with my bestie.  We rode all around downtown and laughed at all the people who were staring at us.  What an adventure!

Having to say goodbye to some of the best roommates in the world at the end of the school year was one of the hardest parts of the year.  These girls have taught me so much and they have grown to become my "Winona Family".  Miss them all so much!

SUMMER 2012

Summer 2012 was also a big change for me because it was my first summer living away from home completely on my own. I got a job at the hospital here working in the kitchen and took a few courses to get ready for graduate school. Organic chemistry is not a fun class to cram all into one month let me tell you. I did manage to still have some fun this summer with many trips to see my family. :)

Gorgeous Winona summer nights.  It was uber hot living without air conditioning in the third story of a house, but nights like this made it so worth it.

 Labor Day camping with my second family at "The Shed"

Car problems.  Yep this one is definitely not one of my favorite memories of 2012, but sure made for an adventurous year!  Even after several flat tires, a broken suspension spring, and more somehow my good ole grand prix is still kickin and ready for 2013.

FALL 2012



 

While saying goodbye to my old roommates was sad, saying hello to my new ones was exciting!  It's definitely been a change, but I love these girls just as much and am blessed to be living with them this year.



END of 2012



I got accepted into UW-Stout's graduate human nutritional sciences program!! I am sad to be leaving my home here in Winona and a little nervous to start all over again, but at the same time I am super excited to start all my nutrition courses. All my classrooms are kitchens! Love it!

My roommate and I were in the newspaper in an article about the big snowstorm we had!

To wrap up the year of 2012, I got to spend Christmas with my family in Winona for a change.  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family.  I don't know what I would do without them!



I could go on and on with memories of 2012, but I should probably get to the food part of this post.  As a celebration of the new year I put a little spin on my classic garbanzo bean bars by adding a little sunbutter and a few bananas to change up the flavor a bit. 

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BEAN BARS

(What a name huh?  I didn't know what else to call them!)

 

Ingredients:

15 oz can Reduced sodium garbanzo beans, rinsed

2 small/medium Bananas (make sure they are really ripe!)

1/4 cup Sunflower seed kernels

1/2 cup Old fashion oats

2 tbsp Honey

3 packets Stevia

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

3/4 tsp Baking powder

3/4 tsp Baking soda

A few dashes of salt

1/4-1/2 cup Dark chocolate chips

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Rinse the beans and add them to a food processor or high powered blender with the bananas and the sunflower seed kernels.

3. Puree the mixture until it just starts to come together and then add the oats.

4. Continue to process the mixture until smooth.

5. Add the honey, stevia, eggs, and vanilla and process again until just combined.

6. Add in the rest of the ingredients except the chocolate chips and process for another 30 seconds.

7. At this point you can stir in the chocolate chips by hand.  I choose to use them as decorations on top instead, but I think next time I will mix them in instead. 

8. Pour the batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan and spread evenly with a spatula.

9. Bake for 10-15 minutes until a toothpick can come out clean when poked in the middle.

10.  Let the bars completely cool off before serving. Enjoy!

Makes 24 bars.

 

Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size: 1 bar

Calories: 60

Total Fat: 2g

     Sat. Fat: .5g

Cholesterol: 14mg

Sodium: 87 mg

Total Carbs: 9g

     Dietary Fiber: 1g

     Sugars: 4g

Protein: 2g

Vitamin A: 0.5%

Vitamin C: 1.5%

Iron: 2.0%

Calcium: 1.1%