WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN THE HOUSE:
Tonight: Wear your great (not green – but it could be green) scarf tonight! Just for fun!
Next Week: 3 more games before our playoffs begin! Where did the time go?
SWAG: I need more time! It’s not going as well/ as easily as I thought it would. Now with the impending tariff threats and the USD where they are…. Ugh! I have not given up, however, maybe for next year??
LAUGH OF THE WEEK:
STUFF THAT MAKES US CURL BETTER:
Stay steady, shoot ready! - Sweeping Saturday
RECIPES AROUND THE RINGS:
Healthy Granola
I enjoy this healthy homemade Granola recipe almost every morning for breakfast because it’s packed with all the good stuff, with the big granola clusters I love, and the perfect flavor and crunch.
Can’t stop, won’t stop, my obsession with this Healthy Granola
My relationship with this homemade Granola recipe has been healthy and strong for over a decade. I’m not exaggerating when I say I enjoy it every. single. day, usually in the form of a hearty handful on my favorite two good vanilla yogurt, with cottage cheese and fresh berries. And when I’m feeling extra, it’s an essential topping on my Pitaya smoothie bowls or my toast with peanut butter, thinly sliced apple and a sprinkle of cinnamon and granola. YUM!
More reasons to obsess over homemade granola:
- Healthier: it has less sugar and is lower Calorie than anything you’ll find at the store.
- Freezer Friendly: It will keep for months in the freezer, stored in a freezer safe bag.
- Great for Gifting: food gifts are how I show love, and giving a little bag of homemade granola with our cute tags (see below) is fun for Christmas neighbor gifts, friends birthdays, or as a healthy snack for a new moms when I drop off dinner.
Now that we’ve established it’s the BEST, let’s make it, shall we?
How to Make Granola:
Mix Dry Ingredients in a bowl: whole grain oats, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, raw sesame seeds and raw unsweetened coconut flakes.
Make Syrup: Combine the butter, sugar, honey, salt, and vanilla in a saucepan. Cook the mixture until it boils, then remove it from heat and stir in baking soda.
Combine: Pour the syrup over the oat mixture then toss everything to evenly coat it.
Bake: Pour the mixture out onto a parchment lined or greased baking sheet and bake for about 18-20 minutes, tossing once during baking.
Serve: Allow the healthy granola to cool completely in the pan to allow it to harden up and create those clusters of granola that we love.
Recipe Variations:
- Vegan: Substitute coconut oil for butter and agave nectar for honey.
- Add Dried Fruit: Reduce oats by about ½ cup and add a heaping ½ cup raisins, craisins or dried cherries, mango or fruit of choice.
- Nut Free: Substitute seeds (like pumpkin or sunflower), or dried fruit.
- Gluten Free: Use gluten-free oats.
Our Healthy Granola recipe yields the big crunchy granola clusters we love, and it's incredibly easy to make. At just 100 calories per serving it's a delicious snack and my favorite for my morning yogurt.
SERVINGS 32
CALORIES 102
PREP 10 MINUTES
COOK 20 MINUTES
TOTAL 30 MINUTES
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cook or steel cut)
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (I like Bob's Red Mill)
- 1 cup sliced raw almonds
- 1/3 cup raw brown sesame seeds , or flax seeds
For the Syrup:
- 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: Add oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and sesame seeds to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Make Syrup by adding butter to a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, honey and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and once boiling, remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
- Combine: Pour syrup over the dry oat mixture and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
- Bake: Pour mixture onto prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and toss mixture, then gently press down on it with your spatula to flatten it back into the pan. Bake for another 8-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Press and Cool: Remove pan from oven and use the back of a metal spatula to press the hot granola firmly down into the pan. Allow granola to cool completely in the pan before stirring or breaking it up (this will yield clusters that stick together).
Yields: about 8 cups granola.
Serving Size: ¼ cup
Vegan Granola: Substitute coconut oil for butter and agave nectar for honey.
To Add Dried Fruit: Reduce oats by about ½ cup and add a heaping ½ cup Craisins, or freeze dried fruit.
Nut Free: omit almonds and add pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or dried fruit.
Gluten-free Adaptations: Use gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats.
Storage Instructions: Store granola in an air-tight container in a cool, dry location for 4-6 weeks.
Freezing Instructions: Store granola in a freezer safe container or ziplock bag and freeze for 2-3 months.
Games, Books, Movies and Shows:
Let’s share some ideas for good games or books or movies or shows! Send me a little blurb as to what it is and why you like it! (Thank you Evelyn Gowan)
I am reading this series and it is terrific.
Some great humour mixed with a murder mystery.
A movie has just been made of the series with Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley & Pierce Brosnan, how can it not be fun.