Chewy Nutty Candy

Update July 2010: I'm bringing this recipe forward because we made them again for the first time in a very long time.  We made them because  we are teaching  Bonnie's kids how to make healthy treats!  I told Bonnie that the key to remaining consistent and to actually change to a healthy lifestyle is to not white knuckle it and have amazing will power.  It's to go ahead and have lots of treats around.  People who have been on the Standard American Diet are used to having so many sweets and sugar in pretty much everything that it will take a while for tastes to change. 

So my method is to go ahead and have lots of treats around just be sure they follow my Ingredients List!  READ LABELS and better yet make your own with good ingredients.  I found that if you feel deprived that you will rebel and just go for the junk.  And then you feel guilty afterwards.  It's not about depriving yourself or feeling guilty  we always give up when we feel that way.  I know I tried pretty much every diet until I figured this out!  Diets only make you fatter and much more unhealthy in the long run!  Get this now they DO NOT work!!!!!

Simple, Healthy, Tasty is NOT a diet but a Lifestyle.  It's a enjoyable, fun, happy, simple and healthy lifestyle.  (I know of people who know us but don't know us very well that really think we snack on carrots and greens all day like we were rabbits or something!  Not that we don't enjoy those things but seriously!?!?!  Does anyone have that kind of will power!?)  When I finally figured it out I never felt deprived or like I was missing out on something.  My life was filled with so much fun good things that I simply didn't even think about, miss, or crave the other.

When I was coming off my Sugar addiction I ate a lot of healthified sweets!  Chewy Nutty Candy was one of my favorites and I ate a lot of them;  honestly more than I probably should have.  But I still lost weight and I didn't feel deprived and I didn't crave the junk.  Again as a person that had weight issues pretty much all my life I can't emphasize enough how freeing this was. 

But now over 8 years later we have had a batch of Chewy Nutty Candy made all week and I have only ate a couple.  They are so sweet to me that a little goes a long way.  But when I was a sugar addict I didn't think they were all that sweet and I could eat a bunch in a sitting!  It's amazing to me.  It was quite subtle, and I just gradually craved less and less sweets.  I still enjoy them now but I'm easily satisfied.  Again I loved how freeing I found it to be able to have my cake and eat it too as long as it was healthified.  And not have to worry about dieting or my weight any more.

Now I have found I'm even a step further on that freedom road.  I feel more in control I can choose more rationally.  I don't down a batch (yes you read that right I'm talking by the dozens I'm sure those of you who have had or do have a sugar addiction will understand, they would "call" me until they were gone) of cookies anymore healthified or otherwise.  I still enjoy a good cookie but I'm easily satisfied.  It's another level of freedom I didn't think I would have.  It's like for a long time I lived to eat.  Now in these past few years I feel I truly eat to live.  I'm am free-er then I ever thought possible.  No longer controlled by a sugar addiction!  I love it!!!!! 

Chewy Nutty Candy

1 1/2 cups honey or agave

1 cup natural peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2  cup nuts, chopped (we like almonds)

1/4 cup raisins (optional)

2 cups oatmeal

Chopped walnuts and/or coconut (to roll candies in)

Cook honey over medium heat until it reaches the soft ball stage using a candy thermometer. VERY IMPORTANT BE SURE NOT TO OVERCOOK OR THE CANDY WILL NOT BE CHEWY IT WILL BE HARD TACK;) Take off heat and add vanilla. Let cool some then add peanut butter, almonds, coconut and oatmeal. Using a spoon or small cookie scoop