Here’s yet another Stella bar variation from my sister Carolyn’s kitchen. Aren’t we all lucky that Miss Caro is a compulsive healthy recipe fiddler?

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Stella bar – Protein Packed Choco/Vanilla Chip Crisp

Bar Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp natural peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• ½ cup All-Bran with extra fiber, crushed up
• 1/4 cup oatmeal
• 3/4 cup TJ’s More and less cereal, crushed up (note: this cereal is 12 gs protein, 11 gs carbs per 2/3 cup so you’ll end up with an even BETTER protein – carb ratio w/ atkins since that has even more protein)
• 6 scoops Myopro whey protein
• 1.5 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract (and 1 tsp of cocoa if making chocolate version)
• 1 cup non-fat dry milk
• 1/2 cup water (depending on what type of protein you use, you may need to add more)
• 8 packets splenda
• Topping: 1 TBSP Peanut butter, 3/4 cup of TJ’s More and Less cereal (crushed up) and 3 TBSP nestle’s mini morsels

Stats: 207 cals, 7 g fat (32%), 2g sat, 17.1g carbs (28%), 3.5g fiber, 20.5g prot (41%).

Line 9×13 baking dish of loaf pan with wax paper (let the paper be over size on two opposite ends so that you can use them to pull out the bars after setting). Combine dry BAR ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Add peanut butter and mix - the mixture will be crumbly and dry. Add water & vanilla/almond extract. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix everything until dough forms. The dough will be sticky. Spread dough into pan and press down using a sheet a wax paper and a spatula. Pull up paper and spread 1 TBSP of peanut butter (warmed for 10 secs in microwave) across surface. Sprinkle crushed Cereal and mini morsels across the top and press down firmly again with the wax paper. Refrigerate a few hours and cut into 10 bars/squares. Wrap bars individually (use sandwich bags or plastic wrap) or store in covered container between sheets of wax paper. Keep refrigerated.

I think Mr. Murphy is out to get me. My company switched dental insurance providers as of December 1, and lo and behold, guess what happens today?

I’m innocently munching on a chewy chocolate peanut butter Stella bar with Kashi Golean crunchies in the middle, and SNAP! A corner of my beautiful porcelain crown on my lower right rear molar breaks off!

:: sobs ::

I’m not due for another cleaning until April, so I’ve bitten the bullet (carefully, so as not to chip off any more of my once pristine crown) and made an appointment to have the thing checked out in a week. Grrr…good thing my flex spending account also started up again on the 1st of the month. I have a feeling that I’ll need it since I decided to skip the overpriced and lousy dental insurance options from the new company.

No more hard/crunchy foods for this Azn Grrl. Bring on the mushy oatmeal and brown rice porridge!

Anyhow, it’s confession time. I’ve been struck down by the PMS cereal and bread munchies for the past week and a half, and I’d say that while my ratios have been pretty close to 40/40/20 thanks to my stockpile of Atkins cereal and Roman Meal bread (three cheers for balanced carb/protein products!), my calories have definitely not been in cutting range. My average in the past week (oh hell, let’s just say two weeks since Turkey Day kicked it all off) has been in the 1800-2200 range.

I haven’t been able to hit my extra cardio more than 3 times, either.

And guess what?

I haven’t gained a single pound or inch except around my shoulders and arms, which are marginally larger. It’s possible that my chest deflated even more, but I prefer not to think about that.

It makes me wonder if I can actually cut 0.5 lbs/week on as much as 1800 calories a day with extra cardio. Can you imagine being able to eat that much and still lose weight? I’m going to try it out on my week off before Christmas and see what happens.

One last thing…I just tried the EAS Myoplex Carb Sense Apple Cinnamon bar again (half a bar diced up and mixed with my favorite CC, apple, and maple concoction), and OMG…it is STILL the vilest bar I’ve ever tasted in my life. Vomit-inducing NASTY. I am pitching the rest of the box into the trash. I don’t care if my opinion of this product cuts me out of the running for the official challenge.

Do not buy this bar.

You have been warned.