Robin's Eccentricities

Today was National Granola Bar day so I figured it would be a good way to ease back into cooking. I do like some granola bars. I prefer my granola to have more of a dessert taste than a healthy snack taste. However my diet greatly lacks protein and fiber so I wanted to add a little good stuff into these. It worked! They are chewy and dessert like but still have some healthy in them. You could change up the add ins almost any way you like. Raisins, nuts, dried fruits or whatever you please.

Makes 12 bars.

1 1/4 cups quick cooking oatmeal
2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons protein powder (any brand of unflavored powder)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini would be best but I didn't have any)
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
3-5 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 350F.

Spray an 8" square baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine all the…

Please take 12 minutes to watch this video. This is the battle I have been fighting. I don't know the person that made this video, I do want to meet him and express my gratitude for making it.

The sound quality isn't great. The creator realizes it and would like to get it fixed. Don't let that quality take away from what he says.

Finally edging back to a new normal. I'm still advocating for soldiers in the background but my research is done and I'm moving forward with what I have.

My son was here over the holidays and I had made a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. As usual I made too much frosting so I just stuck it in a container and put it in the fridge. This morning I decided to find another use for it. Cookies! 
Keeping it extra simple I used a box cake mix. They are amazing! Anyone can whip these up in such little time. To save even more time use store bought (yuck! Did I say that?) frosting. But if you like that frosting by all means save yourself the time of making your own. 
1 box dark chocolate fudge cake mix 1/3 cup oil 3 eggs
Preheat oven to 375F. 
Mix all together with a spoon until most of the dry lumps are gone. Spoon onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. 
Bake for 9 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool for 2 minutes before moving cookies to cooling rack. 
Let cool compl…

I will get back to normal postings soon. I have spent the last few weeks researching and fighting the broken system. Honestly, it is so difficult to fight a system that has been in place for hundreds of years. The Army is not progressive in their treatment of soldiers regardless of what or how they portray themselves to the civilian world. Over and over I hear how a soldier can't seek treatment because of repercussions and when they do seek treatment they have a whole new set of problems. Please do leave comments. (I do not know why parts are highlighted and can't figure out how to clear it.)
Here are my concerns for soldiers and the research behind them. Each one of the points come from an action that actually occurred. Or did not occur, such as being referred for treatment. 
1)      The Primary Care Physician (PCP) not immediately referring soldier to R&R or other resources when presenting with problems that could be both physical and mental health. IE: sleep disorders,…