Cinnamon & Honey Granola

This is my favorite granola recipe–it was given to me years ago by my high school English teacher and for a while I didn’t make any other kind of granola. But that kind of obsession eventually runs its course and I went on to try many different granola recipes. For a while I wasn’t even making granola! But having some around is so handy for breakfast and snacking, plus the routine of making various “staple” is something I really crave. I’m enjoying adding these routines back into our lives.

Now. This is not a health food by any means. There is a LOT of butter and honey. It’s so good, though! And it’s hard to eat too much, because it’s so rich (well, after you overindulge in some right out of the oven, you’ll be on the straight and narrow). The recipe below is mostly the way I received it, but I’m tinkering with the ratio of syrup to dry ingredients.  The original recipe called for 5 cups of dry ingredients to 1 ½ cup liquid–the granola was really sticky and overly sweet to my taste. This version is closer to 7 cups dry to 1 ½ liquid–I think I could probably increase the total dry ingredient amount by a cup or two for the best result. But this version is pretty darn good!

Cinnamon & Honey Granola (It was called Christmas Granola on the recipe card I received)

1 12 oz. box Crispix or Corn Chex, a little more than 13 cups

3 ½ c. rolled oats

3 ½ c. sliced almonds*

3 sticks of butter

1 c. honey

¾ c. brown sugar, packed

1 tsp. salt

1 heaping tbsp. cinnamon

1-2 c. dried fruit (I used cranberries)**

Preheat oven to 325° F. Place oven racks in first and third slots. Prepare two sheet pans or roasting pans (you don’t need to grease them, but you will want to have them ready for quick access). Cover a large surface with waxed or parchment paper.

Combine first three ingredients in a very LARGE bowl and set aside.

Melt butter, honey and brown sugar over medium low heat. Stir in salt and cinnamon to combine.

Pour butter mixture over dry ingredients, a little at a time, folding in each addition carefully.

When all of the syrup has been added to the dry ingredients and they are thoroughly coated, spread evenly between sheet pans. Bake for twenty-five minutes, stirring at ten minute intervals. If you are using darker pans, your granola may be done at twenty minutes–you don’t want it to get too dark.

Remove from oven and spread hot granola onto the waxed paper. Allow to cool.

When granola is totally cool, break into chunks and toss with dried fruit. Store in a cookie jar or Tupperware container.

*I prefer to keep a jar of dried fruit beside the granola jar and add to individual servings rather than mixing it together all at once–the dried fruit is heavy and tends to sink to the bottom over time.

*You can use pretty much any combination of fruit and nuts. I made a version with coarsely chopped pecans, orange zest, cranberries and apricots. It was very good. Or you could go old school and use peanuts and raisins and stir in some M&Ms at the end. That would probably be pretty awesome.

Menu Plan Monday

Quick and Simple! The weather has turned unbearable already, but it has definitely inspired me as far as cooking is concerned. So have a couple of new cookbooks, which I hope to post about Tuesday or Wednesday. Nothing like finally feeling inspired again. But if anyone has any recommendations for getting comfortable in 82% humidity, please share. Takes the fun out of everything, I tell you!

• Tomato & Zucchini Pasta (vegetarian version)
• Mexican Lasagna (sized down for the two of us)
• Caribbean Tilapia & Garlic Cous-Cous
• Sauteed Mushrooms & Rarebit over Toast, Green Beans
• Ricotta Omelet, Green Salad

Food for lunches:

• Hard boiled eggs
• Broccoli Slaw (soooooo good!)
• Wheat Berry Salad
• Veggie Sticks
• Baby Bel Cheese
• Crackers
• Fruit

Food for Breakfast

• Whole wheat bagels
• Granola
• Greek Yogurt (Cabot Cheese Greek Yogurt is my new favorite—very creamy, kind of luxurious)
• Oatmeal/Grits
• Cereal
• Fruit

Live Long and Prosper

We saw the new star trek movie over the weekend. It was surprisingly enjoyable. In fact, I’ve resolved to check out all the tv series that we have at the library–I think all of them, but I could be wrong. The movie was tons of fun, though. I’ve never really watched or followed Star Trek at all, but even I caught on to the “inside” jokes. I may have to scale back some of my expectations–the special effects are so over the top compared to the original series.

Five stars for a fun time.

Menu Plan Monday

Finally, finally, I am feeling back on track. At least somewhat. We’ve struggled to get back into a routine since the death of Michael’s mom, and while we’re not 100% where I’d like to be, we are making progress. We still eat out more than I’d like and more than we should, but last week I chose cooking more often than not, and that’s good. To aid the process, I’m sticking with simple, tasty and sometimes pre-prepared (ie–storebought help). Whatever it takes!

Sunday:

Red Curry and Spicy Lentils (Michael cooks)

Monday:

Leftovers (Laura at evening meeting)

Tuesday:

BBQ Tofu, Asparagus, & Baked Potato Wedges (Michael cooks)

Wednesday:

Loaded Nachos, Broccoli Slaw (Laura cooks)

Thursday:

Very Veggie Fried Rice (Laura cooks)

Friday:

Frozen Pizza (Amy’s Roasted Veggie), Green Salad

Saturday:

Leave for Pennsylvania to visit my family!!! No cooking required.