Putting Things Back Together and A Full Day of Baking

It's Saturday, and as I've said before, it's our "official" chore day. I'm very happy because we got tons o' stuff done. Aaron and I got all the cabinet and drawer stuff moved back in to their appropriate places in the kitchen. Whew! What a job!!!

In addition, we made a loaf of whole wheat bread, chocolate chip cookies, some granola and pasta fagoli. We were busy in the kitchen most of the afternoon. The granola recipe I use is from an old "Food Network" show called, "Cooking Thin." I've experimented with it some, so I don't have the original recipe to share with you, just the one I use after tweaking the original. Anyway, it's so easy to make, and the only fat in it is from the nuts you use. Naturally, you don't have to add nuts if you don't want to.

Here's the recipe as I've tweaked it:

Preheat oven to 275 deg. F

8 cups old fashioned rolled oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup water

4 tsps. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. salt

cinnamon to taste

2 cups of chopped nuts (any kind you like, or none at all)

1/2 to 1 cup of dried fruit (raisins, dates, or what ever you prefer)

1/4 cup coconut (oops, there may be a wee bit of fat there)

Place the 3/4 cup brown sugar in a 4-cup, glass measuring cup

Add the 1/4 cup water place in microwave and cook on high power for five minutes. Remove from microwave and add the vanilla and salt

Place the oats, cinnamon, nuts, and coconut in a large bowl

Pour the brown sugar/water mixture over the oats and stuff and stir until well combined

Spread the mixture onto two cookie sheets (the kind that has a rim all the way around)

Bake for 45 minutes

(Half-way through the baking, I switch the trays around so that the one that was on the bottom rack moves up and the one that was on top, moves down)

When done, remove from oven and while the granola is still warm add the dry fruit and mix

Once everything has cooled, place in an air-tight container.

It makes about 8 cups.

Have fun with this recipe and be sure to personalize it to your liking :)

This is a waaaay yummy recipe. It's great for breakfast, or on yogurt, or on ice cream, etc.