Homemade granola

I am typically a cereal person in the morning (mostly because it's the quickest thing to eat), but every once in a while it's nice to change things up. When I go home to visit my family in Chico, this granola is always in the pantry. Most people think granola is a hard thing to make, but it's actually quite easy and quick.

All you do is...

 Dump the ingredients into a bowl.....

Melt some honey into oil and vanilla....

Mix it all together and spread out on a sheet pan....

Bake.....

 And eat!

And this time I'll actually post the recipe too. Note: Ingredients don't have to be measured super precisely....and you can add/eliminate things to your preference....it's fun to experiment!

Suzanne's Famous Cashew Granola

adapted from Cafe Beaujolais

4  cups      Regular oats (not instant or quick-cooking)

2/3 cup     Wheat germ or oat bran

2/3 cup     Unsweetened big flake coconut

6  Tb        Sesame seeds

6 Tb         Sunflower seeds

1/2 cup     Cashews

1/2 cup     Raw pumpkin seeds

2/3 cup     Corn oil

1/3 cup     Honey

1 tsp         Vanilla

1/4 tsp      Salt

1/2 cup     Dried fruit (optional - I don't usually put this in, but it's totally up to your preference)

Mix together oats, wheat germ or oat bran, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and nuts in a large bowl,

In a saucepan, combine corn oil, honey, vanilla, and salt. Cook over low heat until honey is melted. Pour over dry mixture and blend thoroughly.

Spread out in a lightly greased 10x15x1-inch pan and bake at 300 degrees for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Cool thoroughly, add optional fruit or raisins, and store in a plastic bag or airtight container.

Serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, or milk.

Happy Friday :)

Post Mother's Day

I went home for Mother's Day weekend. The weather was nice (although a bit windy at times), and my sister came back too....which doesn't happen all that often. The family went to see the spring musical at Laxon, which was actually kind of a disappointment; some people left at intermission.

I made some almond macarons...

I had to weigh out all of the ingredients with a digital scale.

 The macarons resting before going in the oven.

Filling and stacking.

The finished product!

We took a trip to San Diego earlier this year and ended up at a nice breakfast place called The Mission, that makes yummy juevos rancheros....my mom was able to replicate it pretty well.

 Tortillas, eggs, ham, green salsa, black beans, and an egg!

My sister and I always have trouble trying to figure out what to get our mom for Mother's day. A while back my mom and I came across a cute pin cushion; we bought the pattern and I turned it into a Mother's day gift! This was my first 3-dimensional sewing adventure; don't look too closely, or you'll see all of it's imperfections.

My mom ended up cutting me some roses from the yard to take home...my place smells yummy!

Sunday in Napa

I spent today in Napa; it's only about 45 minutes from Davis, which makes a day-trip very feasible! It was a sunny 80 degrees outside....finally, it's starting to look like spring!

I had lunch at Ubuntu - a Michelin star, meat-free restaurant. Some dishes were better than others, but overall it was a tasty experience. Here are a few of the things from the menu...

 Green garlic and fava bean soup shot

Stewed chickpeas with sauce romesco and a poached egg

Dessert: Milk chocolate pudding with satsumas and tarragon/citrus granita

In the afternoon.....

Oxbow Public Market

And a trip to Kenzo Estate Winery for a private tasting and tour.

The caves - single stacked barrels for easier access and transport

 The tasting room

 Private tasting room, with snacks!

 The understated entrance (Lindsey and Nick leaving)

Since it was sunny and warm all weekend, I spent very little time at home, which means I spent no time baking/cooking; but don't worry, with Mother's day next weekend, there will definitely be some goodies coming soon!