Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars, Carnitas, and The #1 Question I’ve Been Asked Since Moving to CO
Gooooood morning! 
Yesterday turned out to be a lovely Sunday. It was absolutely gorgeous in Colorado – sunny and upper 50’s, and we took advantage of it with a long walk with Niko. The rest of the day a lot of relaxing happened while dinner was cooking away for us:
Carnitas! Local, organic pork from a farm about an hour south of here in the slow cooker. I love how available sustainably raised meat is here <—among one of the reasons I am so glad we moved here.
Other reasons:
-the mountains
-hiking
-the weather
-an adventure!
But do you want to know one of the #1 questions I’ve been asked since we moved here?
Sooo, did you move to Colorado because of Prop 64 (legalization of marijuana in Colorado)?
Usually this question is asked with a nod and couple winks 
I moved to Colorado for the mountains and the weather, thankyouverymuch! However, it has been a pretty big news item that marijuana has been legalized here, and on almost every newscast, there’s some story on how the marijuana task force is going to regulate it, how it’s going to be taxed, and so on. Definitely different than the news I’m used to back in Illinois, which were mainly either fluffy stories, fires, town scandals, or, erm, shootings.
Annnyway – back to the carnitas.
Guys, these were so delicious – and super easy. I basically combined these two recipes to make the following:
Rub down the pork loin with Erica’s rub
Then:
place the porkloin in the slow cooker
add half a chopped onion
squeeze the juice of 1 orange over the pork and place the two halves in the pot
squeeze the juice of 1 lime into the mix
Add just about a 1/4 c. chicken broth to the bottom
Cook on low for 6-8 hours
Shred, and then place under the broiler on a baking sheet for 5 minutes
Pour excess juices from the slow cooker on top. Eat.
Yum.
But this, my friends, is not the main event of today’s post. The main even is brought to you by a rumbly in my tummy after dinner on Saturday night:
These are the almond butter bars I referenced in yesterday’s post! Time for the recipe. They’re amazing. Get ready.
Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars
1/2 c. creamy almond butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 c. unsweetened, shredded coconut
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chocolate chips (I broke apart a dark chocolate bar)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Spread into a greased 8×8 baking pan and cook for 20-25 minutes (check with a toothpick to come clean.)
Devour.
Time for the gym! Going to get in a full body workout before working for a bit.
What’s the biggest story on your local news lately?
LAUGHED OUT LOUD at the number one query 🙂
we just moved to a place where the drug attitude is verrry liberal as well and Ive been asked the same sort of thing.
Miz recently posted…Leave margins.
I’ve never tried that brand of coconut butter, I have only tried Nutvia Coconut Manna (http://nutiva.com/articles/some-nutiva-coconut-manna-faqs-answered/). Do you need to heat up the jar prior to eating in a water bath?
I love Nutiva’s coconut manna. It’s a bit cheaper, too, and so delicious. I do heat up the jar – but just in the microwave by itself – not a water bath. *iz lazy*
Wow, heat the whole jar in the micro?? Didn’t know that was possible:) How long?
i LOVE the look of these bars!! coconut + chocolate is always a stellar combo!!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…Honey Vanilla Protein Dip
Those bars look amazing! I love the addition of shredded coconut in there too. What a great touch!
Danielle (@CleanFoodCreativeFitness) recently posted…Marvelous in my Monday!
I didn’t even think about the pot thing – that’s too funny that people have been asking you that!
And definitely going to have to remember that bar recipe.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted…Cookie Butter: Delicious and Durable.
HA! Too funny. I don’t foresee marijuana being legalized in Utah ANY time soon. And there’s not much news around here other than talk about all of the disgusting weather we’ve been having this year. As much as I’m hating the smog, I suppose it’s a good thing that’s all we’re hearing about!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Rejuvenated
That is funny that people ask you that! Nothing too big around here. But our Mayor is retiring this fall so I guess its is big news every time a new person announces their candidacy.
I already pinned the cookie bars, I must make them next weekend!
PS So jealous of the nice weather in CO!
Lindsey recently posted…Weekend Ramblings
Wow to both recipes!! YUM! I love carnitas- that’s what I almost always get at Chipotle, but don’t make NEARLY enough at home.
People love to make jokes about weed and Colorado. Whatever- just one MORE reason to live there, right? 😉
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted…Naturebox Giveaway!
I always get carnitas at Chipotle, too! Actually – for anywhere that offers carnitas it’s what I usually order.
I love the simple ingredients that go into those almond bars! I think I have ALL of those in my pantry right now. Definitely jealous of those mountains. I love seeing all the pics 🙂
Nice! Let me know if you make ’em 🙂
The chocolate chip bars look pretty incredible! No flour too which is totally awesome. Almond butter can be pretty magical when baking!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted…Pancakes and Running
Those carnitas look great, but I could probably whip up a batch of those chocolate chip bars for dinner and be 100% happy.
Carly @ Snack Therapy recently posted…Resolutions Check-in: Week 4
That’s hilarious! I didn’t even think about that, but I guess the timing does coincide!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…Yes, Please Pump Me Full Of Hormones!
That pork looks amazing! Definitely trying that soon – love a good crockpot recipe!
Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian recently posted…New Week, New Me
Those carnitas look fab!
That’s hilarious that everyone asks you that. No judgement here either way 😉
In DC the biggest news stories aside from politics (of course) is the traffic. Since I don’t drive it’s not very interesting for me to listen to.
Kacy recently posted…Comment on Eatin’ & Drinkin’ – Sette Osteria and Afterwords Cafe by Eatin’ & Drinkin’ – Tomate | Low… and behold!’s Blog
Haha. I get a lot of those jokes from my Minnesota friends as well. Those carnitas look amazing!
Oh man with that dessert! Yum! Here in MO they are trying to let lag some of the repercussions for getting caught with marijuana, I doubt it will ever get legalized. Your weekend sounds perfect 🙂
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit recently posted…Monday Funday!
That bread looks amazing, going to have to make that! And in regards to the #1 question you are asked, just respond letting them know that yes it has been leaglized by the State, but it’s still a Federal offense to be caught with it!!
I absolutely love the looks of those almond butter bars and it’s amazing they look the way they do and contain no flour. Can’t wait to give these a try! Pinning right now!
kim@hungryhealthygirl recently posted…Marvelous in My Monday!
Totally diggin’ those AB bars, mmm mmm!
Hillary {Nutrition Nut on the Run} recently posted…Oh, Monday.
Ha! I didn’t know marijuana was legal anywhere in the US! We are going to Amsterdam this weekend for the second time, and you bet we get the same question haha
Tara @ Sweat like a Pig recently posted…Conquering the fear
Yep! Here and Washington so far.
holy wow those carnitas sound amazing!
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted…MIMM: Only Wishful Thinking
The best news in central Illinois I noticed recently was the deer seasons hunting numbers 😛 News here in milwaukee however there is always missing people in the news freaks me out a lot actually. But in 99% of missing people cases here its someone getting to drunk and falling in the river. SCARY!!!!
stephanie gramlich recently posted…Where’d the weekend go?
You sure those Chocolate Chips bars don’t have an extra special to Colorado ingredient in them? 🙂
lol… I didn’t even think of that when you moved there! I can’t wait to make those bars.. I’m hungry just thinking about them.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…MIMM Parties and the Golden Ticket
wow those coconut chocolate chip bars look AMAZING! I’m going to try the recipe out this week… Just to be sure, there’s no flour or oats/oat flour in them? It sounds too good to be true 🙂
Making these bars! ASAP!
Erica recently posted…My First Baby
Yum! Those bars look so good!
Natalie recently posted…Popeye Style
I made these today and they are SOOOO GOOD. And not to mention super easy!! I will definitely be making these again because I have a feeling this first batch won’t last long 😉
As soon as I am back in my humble adorable apartment…. I AM MAKIN THESE.
Katelyn Block recently posted…En Route to NYC: Learning and The Importance of Self-Preservation