A recipe: Homemade Granola

A few years ago a friend of mine made this granola for a morning MOPS meeting.  It was so delicious and she graciously shared her recipe with me.  Well, lately I've been getting a hankerin for some granola.  Here is what you need:

Homemade Granola

4 cups Old Fashioned Oats

2 cups coconut

1 cup sliced nuts

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup honey



Stir together the oats, coconut and nuts.  (I used about 3/4c sliced almonds and 1/4c sunflower seeds.  Just use your favorite, or what you have on hand.)

Mix together the oil and honey.  This can be a little tricky because the honey does not incorporate well with the oil, but it doesn't matter.  Trust me, if I can make it work, you can!!

Next, you pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix together till coated well.

Spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Stir and return to oven for 15 more minutes.

There you have it.  Homemade Granola!!  *You can change the cooking time based on how brown you like yours.  Just remember to stir every so often.

Enjoy!!

Homemade Creamer

I don't know about you, but this warm beautiful weather puts me in the mood.  The mood to clean, open the windows, sit on the porch and read (got a great new book today, I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  Promise.), and spend some time in my kitchen.

I've been making my own creamer for a short time and I've been enjoying it.  Thanks to pinterest I've found a great easy peasy recipe.  I thought I'd share it with you.  You brew the coffee while I make the creamer, ok?!

So, here it is.  I'll share the real recipe from pinterest at the end.

You will need:
1/4 c of brown sugar
1 TBL of pure vanilla
2 c of half and half




Forgot to put the half and half in the first picture.  :)

Melt the brown sugar and vanilla over the stove being careful not to burn it. 

Turn off the burner and slowly whisk in the half and half.

When you're done it will look like this:

Just poor into your favorite glass container and store in the fridge.  Voila!  It's that easy.

If you are into coffee for the creamer, this might not be for you.  However, I am one such person and I have found this to be enjoyable.  Plus, I think it's better for you since it doesn't contain all of those extra ingredients that are found in flavored creamers.

Here is the recipe that I followed.  She does a much better job with it, but trust me if I can make a.n.y.one can make it.

So, try it and let me know what you think.  Oh, and it costs less too!!

Enjoy spring today, for it shall not last.


A cookie recipe

No-Bake Cookies

I made some cookies today and thought that I would like to share some with you.  Unfortunately they didn't turn out quite right.  They taste ok, it's just the texture.  Too gooey.  (Is there such a thing?)  Since I can't physically share them with you, I thought I'd share the recipe and you could try them if you like.  Here is what you need.

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup marg.  (I use butter)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups oats

Combine sugar, butter, milk, cocoa and salt in saucepan.

Once the butter has melted, bring this to a boil for 2 min.

Remove from heat, add vanilla and oatmeal.

Stir well and drop on waxed paper.  (I use the round pampered chef scoop.)

Let cool and enjoy!!

These were something my Nan used to make when I was a little girl.  Sometimes I get the hankerin for some and because they are a no bake, it's easy to make them.  Also, you only dirty one pan.  Makes for easy clean up!!  The best.  You might have a similar recipe of these that you make.  If so, let me know what yours is.  If you decide to make these, tell me if you like them.  Happy no baking!!

Easy Chocolate Trifle

I know what you're thinking, "I thought she hated cooking/baking."  Well, I do but, this is a recipe I can handle and since I had to make it for our family Thanksgiving dinner tonight, I thought I would share it with you.  It's one of my favorites.  How can you go wrong with chocolate pudding, whip cream, chocolate cake and 5th Avenue bars?  Here is what you need:

1 box chocolate cake

1 box chocolate pudding

2 tubs of cool whip

3-4 5th Avenue bars

*These will vary based on your preference.  I say, the more the merrier. :}

Prepare your boxed cake using 2 round 8" pans as directed on box. 

Prepare your pudding as directed on box and chill.

Once the cakes have cooled you will want to cut them in half to make 4 round cakes.  Understand?

Once you've done that you are ready to start layering.  Place your first cake in the bottom of your trifle dish.  Than spread the chocolate pudding to cover.

After that layer the cool whip on top.

Break the candy bars up.  I use whatever that thing is.  (I think its a meat tenderizer, not sure!?!)
Anyway, sprinkle those on top of the cool whip.

Continue layering in the same order until you are done.  Use as little or as much pudding and cool whip and candy as you like.  *If you like more pudding, you might want to make 2 boxes.  I didn't quite use up both tubs of cool whip, but the boys will be happy to use the rest in their hot chocolate.  (ok, so will I ;})
Once you're done, it should look like this.

Pretty huh?
*The toothpicks are to keep the plastic wrap from touching the cool whip and making it messy.  A trick I learned from my Mom.
One last thing, chill in the fridge till it's time to dig in and enjoy!

I would love to hear your variations on this.  I'm sure you've tried your own trifles.  Let me know what you like.