Homemade Granola

I've been wanting to make my own granola for some time now, and when I got off work early yesterday I thought I would finally take the time to do it. My mom has been making homemade granola for as long as I can remember and it is so {so so} much better than the stuff you buy in the store! Since my mom was occupied taking my little brother on college visits and couldn't give me her favorite recipe, I decided to do my own search. I ended up adapting a recipe from La Belle Bride. I liked this recipe because unlike most granola, it didn't have any dried fruit {I'm not a huge fan} and it had tons of nuts. The one big change I made to the recipe was substituting some of the honey it called for with sweetened condensed milk, something I remember my mom always doing. I know this granola was a success because when my roommate took a bite she yelled from the other room, "Molly this granola is {effing} awesome!" Hope you enjoy. 

Homemade Granola

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups rolled oats (not instant)

1/2 cup dry instant milk

1 cup chopped almonds

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup whole cashews

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 tbs cinnamon

1 tbs vanilla

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/8 cup peanut butter

Here's How

1. Toast rolled oats for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. 

2. Combine instant milk, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, cashews, and coconut in a medium sized bowl.  

3. Boil vegetable oil, honey, sweetened condense milk, peanut butter, vanilla, and cinnamon in a sauce pan for two minutes until smooth. 

4. Pour wet ingredients over nut mixture and add oats once toasted. Mix well. 

5. Bake granola on a cookie sheet for 1/2 hour at 250 degrees. Turn oven down to 200 degrees and cook for another 2 hours. Allow granola to cool and harden before storing. 

The yummy way I enjoyed my granola this morning!

Tips

If you're on a budget like me, I would recommend buying all of the nuts needed for this recipe in the bulk foods section of the grocery store. Nuts are super expensive {especially pecans which cost $15 per pound!} and contain lots of oils that will spoil, so buying just what you need will save you money and the possibility of biting into a rancid almond three months from now {yuck}. 

Watermelon Gin and Tonic

Just wrapped up a much anticipated weekend up north at the cabin with all of my best friends. The sun was out, the lake was beautiful, and I think my stomach is still sore from laughing so hard. One thing that is never in short supply while hanging out with my friends are the cocktails. I wanted to share this little gem with you because it is the quintessential summer drink. It's fruity and refreshing without being overly sweet and there really is nothing better than a juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Watermelon Gin and Tonic {compliments of Courtney Blankenheim}


Ingredients
Gin
Tonic water
Wedge of lime
Watermelon slices
Sugar 


Here's How
1. Make watermelon puree. In a blender combine watermelon slices and about a tablespoon of sugar (more or less depending on how sweet you like your cocktails). Blend mixture until smooth and set aside. 
2. Add 1 (or two) shots of your favorite gin to a glass of ice. Top off glass with tonic water and a squeeze of lime. 
3. Pour one tablespoon of watermelon puree into drink and garnish with a slice of watermelon. 

Clean Eating Starts Here.

Ok so it's official, I am in a food rut. I have been finding myself eating more and more unhealthy lately and I am on a mission to get back on track. It amazes me that no matter how crappy I feel after eating a meal full of fat, sugar, and salt I continue to eat and eat that pizza, burger, and french fries. I really want to start eating more cleanly so that I can cleanse my system and feel better while doing it! Spinach is a natural fat burner and it's loaded with vitamin A and antioxidants so I thought I would start there. Behold my baby spinach salad with sauteed asparagus, organic blueberries, and green peppers. It is topped with slivered almonds and crumbled goat cheese {yum} for some added crunch and creaminess. Enjoy!