Sunday, August 1, 2010

Granola and Tea....yes please!


This winter, my parents went on a little vacation to franconia notch and stayed at a quaint little bed and breakfast.  While on their stay they obviously had breakfast, and The Snowflake Inn made their own granola.  Well, my step mother fell in love with it, and asked for the recipe and has been making batches of it every since (with her own added spin).  Every time I go home, I can't wait for breakfast!  So a few weeks ago Mark asked me if I would make it and that was the motivation for me to try.  I was apprehensive to take on such a task, but to be honest it was really easy to make!!!  When you are first buying the ingredients it can seem pretty expensive, but trust me you will get a lot of batches made before you run out of the ingredients.  I over cooked the first batch, and some of it was burnt, but it was still really good!  I finally ran out, so I made another batch this weekend.  My first batch took me 3 weeks to finish, and I ate it most mornings.


199's Granola

(prep-time: the first time 25 min, after that 10 minutes) 
(bake time: 30-45 minutes, I turned every 7 minutes) 

5 cups oatmeal                                         1 cup honey
1 cup wheat germ                                    1/2 cup sesame oil
1/2 cup pumpkin seed                             1/2 cup peanut oil
1/2 cup sunflower seed                           1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups coconut 
2 cups assorted nuts (no peanuts) give them a rough chop!  (and I chop up all the nuts at once and store the extra in the refridge).


Preheat oven to 350.  Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Heat all the wet items on the stove and then add to the dry bowl.  Place EVENLY on a cookie sheet, (preferably with sides) to prevent burning. Turning often (with tongs) until lightly browned.  Cool completely before storing it in an air tight container. 




I bought this glass container for 5 dollars at Target, and it is the perfect size for this recipe (I think it was 1.5 quarts).  


Like I said, the first time I made this I overcooked it.  I think I was afraid that it was still going to be sticky, but the second time I took it out it was golden brown and a little sticky, but as it cooled it crisped up.  I don't think that this batch will last as long!





I like to eat it with fresh berries, and milk!!!  The combination of the blackberries, blueberries and granola is heaven!  When you are all done, and  are left with the bowl of milk it is sweet from the honey, and it goes down so smoothly!











Fresh Brewed Iced Tea

12 cups of water
5 black tea bags
5 green tea bags

Boil 12 cups of water, and once it is boiled turn it off and wait 30 seconds before adding the tea bags. Put the cover on a let it steep and the cool for 15 minutes.  Pour into container and place in refrigerator until it is cooled.  


When I went blueberry picking in Troy they had the cutest little tea place, and I had a cup of their fresh brewed tea (2.25).  It was so good, and good for you, that I decided I am going to start making my own.  It really doesn't need you to add any sugar or honey.  

I am chronically dehydrated, so I find this the best way to keep cool and hydrated on hot summer days!  

12 cups of fresh brewed ice tea costs $1.00!  








Finire di mangiare, 

Mary

3 comments:

  1. This is the best granola I've ever eaten!!!Another thought about the granola - I think I would use parchment paper next time, so the granola doesn't stick,and it'll make clean up easier! We used whole organic cashews because we both really like them. Next time I might even get the broken cashew pieces, and they will bake more evenly. But they are delicious!

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  2. Yeah!!! I am glad you made it! It is so easy, and so satisfying to eat it!! Cashew are a great idea. I guess I forgot to say that I chop up the nuts (not fine) but I give them a rough chop so you get more out of it! Thanks for the input!

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