Fig Peanut Butter Spread and a Fun Award!

Recently I was awarded this fun award from the oh so lovely, Heather, from Kiss My Broccoli...

So here’s how this works:

THE RULES:
1. Post this award with the picture and name whoever tagged you in it
2. Do the STUFF!
3. Award to 7 others and tell them you did so!
THE STUFF:
1. Name 3 things that are lying right next to you
2. Name 2 foods you cannot live without
3. Name 1 thing you did today

Here we go...

Next to me is this dude! Seventeen years as of last Sunday is the day we officially met! Best day of my life! We have enjoyed talking about our first week together all week. I love this guy...he would do anything for me and I appreciate everything he does and has ever done. Trust me, I've given him many tests...he always passes with flying colors! He's a keeper!

My notebook with a pencil for when my brain starts working on a recipe. I love pencils...it's weird, but I do prefer them over pens. 

My iPhone keeps my grocery lists and other things I remember when out and about. I never thought I would be so attached to it, but I am! Also, I have to keep it handy for a game of scrabble with Tony at night. He hates that I'm getting better, but he told me his strategy...it was bound to happen! I'm a total addict!

It's hard to pick foods I can't live without and narrowing it down to 2 is even harder since I love food...

First up, oats! I have to have them. I put them in almost everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack...anytime!

(oven roasted butternut squash)

(with flax and figs!)

(smore's...need I say more?)

Second, I was going to say beans trying to add in some protein, but no...I'd have to say apples! I won't even begin  to tell you how sad I'm going to be through the summer! At least there will be cantaloup to soothe me.

One thing I've done today...made figgy peanut butter! How else you do think I woke up all these boys today?! Nothing like the sound of peanuts in a food processor to get you up and going!

I saw Jessica do this the other day and well, I HAD to make it!  This is a little different though. I swear you can use it as a frosting. It's so creamy and thick from the almond milk added to it...hello deliciousness!

Fig Peanut Butter Spread

(Inspired by Jessica at Healthy Exposures)

(makes 2 1/2 cups)

2 cups roasted shelled peanuts

8 dried figs

1 cup almond milk

20 drops NuNaturals vanilla stevia

1/4 tsp salt

Heat the milk with the figs in the microwave for 1 minute (it softens the dried figs so they are easier to process and your machine will thank you for it later). Put everything in the food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

A note on the peanuts...

I am still working on the peanuts I got from my grandmother for Christmas (10lbs is a lot to go through even for a peanut lover)...

let's just say it was me against the peanut when it came to shelling these suckers and I won! It took forever, but it was so worth it. 

I may or may not have smeared some on an apple danish for my reward...you know and a little extra goodness on there!

 

Oh, and did you know that dried figs taste like the center of a Fig Newton?

These suckers are so good, but maybe not so good for your teeth! They are hard, but so good! Microwaving a little definitely helps soften them up a bit.

I want to tag too many people here, so I figured I would ask everyone to tell me three things that are laying next to you or two foods you can not live without. I'm guessing most people went to work today, but if you didn't what did you do?