Granola Yum!

Sometimes I am really bad at eating breakfast. Not that we do not have a lot of choices always cereal on hand for the little ones. Pancakes, waffles and french toast in the freezer. Eggs are always an option in this house, having 30 chickens helps,and I have an arsenal of egg recipes. Yet some morning more often than not I just have 2 or 3 cups of coffee. We can talk about the negative effects of that later.
This morning though I made a conscious effort to eat something healthier. So a 1/2 c of vanilla yogurt topped with 1/4 c granola I whipped up last week. It is so good!
This recipe is not mine it's called Lizzie's Granola from Chef Michael Symon of Lolas in Ohio and also know as a IRON CHEF on Food Network. Give it a whirl I am sure you will not be disappointed. Kids love it too.

Two hints use sliced or slivered almonds the whole ones can be kinda tough on your jaw. Second if you do not have kosher salt use on 3/4 tsp you do not want it to be to salty a mistake I have made but it was still edible.

Lizzie's Granola

Ingredients:
4 cups rolled oats
2 cups unsweetened coconut
2 cups almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup honey
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp kosher salt

Toss together to coat and bake on sheetray at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden stirring half way. Let cool completely in pan. Add 2 cups of dates and dried cherries & serve or store in airtight container and add dried fruit to order.

Better Choices

So last night I whipped up this tasty smoothie to curb my sweet tooth. My lil guy loved it too. Is it the healthiest smoothie ever? Probably not but it was a healthier choice the eating an entire bag of oreos. Not that I am anti oreo in fact I love them! Maybe a little too much. Give it a whirl or tweak it your own way.

Blueberry Banana Smoothie
1/2c vanilla yogurt
1/4c milk
1/4c frozen blueberries
1 frozen banana pre cut in to smaller pieces
1 tbl honey or less
In a blender add milk yogurt blueberries and banana. Top with cover and whip on high or smoothie setting if you have one until all is mixed. Turn off remove lid and taste add honey if needed. Serve immediately

Blueberry Peach Baked Oatmeal

When I was visiting family in Texas last November my awsome sister-in-law made me a banana baked oatmeal. Since then I have been a quest to make a great baked oatmeal base and I think that I have found one. I have made it with apples and rasins then yesterday I thought to combine two of my favorites blueberries and peachs. YUM YUM YUM!
I used the peaches that I canned last season but I canned peached diced or maybe even frozen would work just as well. I kept the blueberries frozen so they would not get all mushy dye the whole this purple but I am sure defrosted are ok too. I can not wait to get a pint from the farmers market in the summer.
If you do not have unsweetened applesauce I am sure that regular would be great. Also if you do not have nutmeg just replace with more cinnamon.

If you want to try with apples and rasins increase the milk to 1/2c

2c Old fashion Oats
¼ c flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¾ tsp salt
¼ c brown sugar
2 eggs beaten
½ c unsweetened applesauce
¼c milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ c frozen blueberries
1 c diced peaches
Preheat oven to 325 grease 11x8 pan
In a large bowl combine oats flour baking powder cinnamon nutmeg salt and brown sugar
In a medium bowl wisk eggs applesauce milk and vanilla stir into dry ingrediants fold in frozen blueberries and peaches pour into baking pan place in oven and bake for 35 min until lightly brown and cooked thru