Chewy Honey Granola

I enjoy making this Chewy Honey Granola!

2 cups dry rolled oats

1 cup pecans

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup almonds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup walnuts

1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried berries)

1 cup coconut (optional)

1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)

Coarsely chop the nuts and add the remaining above ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well.

Heat the first 4 ingredients in a small sauce pan until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and almond extract and stir.

1/4  cup oil (flax seed, coconut,  or canola)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp almond extract

add as much love as you like!

Pour syrup over dry ingredients and mix until evenly coated. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper then spread mixture in a thin layer. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, stirring twice. 

Remove from oven and move granola around and break it up so it doesn't harden into one layer as it cools. Store in an airtight container.

Fresh Salsa

There's nothing like taking fresh ingredients and making a big bowl of Festive Fresh Salsa! This week I used my first ripe tomatoes and fresh corn right off the cob! Part of this recipe comes from a good friend and then I played around with the rest. You'll never want store bought salsa again!

1 15oz can black beans (rinse and drain)
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies (mild or hot)
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh corn kernels (or 1 can)
1/2 purple onion, chopped
2 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped
1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 TBSP lime juice (takes 2 limes)
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill to enhance the flavor.

Chewy Honey Granola

I have a habit of eating yogurt with granola for lunch practically every day and enjoy my homemade Chewy Honey Granola better than the crunchy store brands. This is a great recipe and makes a large batch.

Add the following into a large bowl:

2 cups dry rolled oats

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup whole almonds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup peanuts

1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried berries)

1 cup coconut (optional)

1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)

Heat the following first 4 ingredients in a small sauce pan. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and almond extract and stir.

Snow Trail Mix

I've been looking forward to making this recipe since I tried it for the first time at our Ellet Craft Show but they called it "White Trash"! When I checked Pinterest I found that's what everyone called it. You can call it whatever you want but I call it delicious! And it's a great way to use the left over cereals in Chex mix!

3 cups corn Chex cereal
3 cups rice Chex cereal
3 1/2 cups Cheerios cereal
2 1/2 cups mixed nuts
1 (12 oz) bag M & M's
1 package pretzel Goldfish
dash of cinnamon
3 (12oz) packages white chocolate chips
or 2 lbs white bark chocolate
Pinch of Love

In a large bowl toss together cereals, nuts, M & M's, pretzels and a few dashes of cinnamon.

Melt white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl 15 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until creamy.

Drizzle the melted white chocolate over mixture. Toss gently until well coated. Pour mixture on 2 cookie sheets, spread into single layer. Allow chocolate to set up. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

I found Ginger Evans
White Bark at Save A Lot

Caramel Popcorn

I've been looking for a Caramel Popcorn recipe and finally asked Aunt Becky for her's. She gave me some great tips too. Most recipes recommend baking for 1 hour. Aunt Becky suggested 45 minutes so the sugar doesn't have a burned taste. She bakes hers in a couple of blue roasters. I found this less messy than using cookie sheets. However, I used parchment paper on the cookie sheets with no sticking. I didn't treat the roasters and ended up with caramel stuck all over the pan.

Granola Trail Mix

I've been looking for a healthy snack so I combined my Granola and Trial Mix recipes today.  This was an opportunity to use the variety of seeds and nuts I'd purchased for making bread. I think I'll try this as cereal with Almond Milk tomorrow morning. I'd like to experiment with cinnamon and vanilla or almond flavoring next time. Thanks Melanie, for sharing your granola baking secrets!

2 cups dry rolled oats

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup whole almonds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup peanuts

1 cup coconut (optional)

1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)

1/4  cup oil (flax seed, coconut,  or canola)

1/2 cup honey

1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried berries)

Sticky Popcorn

  A Landon favorite

½ stick butter

¼ cup Karo syrup

¼ cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1 large pan of popped corn, 3 quarts
(Tiny White brand)

1 cup peanuts or almonds

Heat together butter, karo and brown sugar in small sauce pan. Bring to rolling boil, boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add vanilla, stir. Drizzle over popcorn & peanuts while stirring gently.