Granola

I absolutely love eating homemade granola! I remember always eating it growing up and it still never gets old. After trying out a few recipes I've collaborated them and created this one. Enjoy!!!

                  

Homemade Granola
*this makes a ton! It made two gallon size bags about 3/4 of the way full for me so maybe half it if you don't need that much.

Ingredients:
9 Cups old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 lb shredded coconut
3 cups chopped pecans, walnuts or sliced almonds
3/4 cup raisins

1 1/4 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 c water
1 1/4 c vegetable oil
1 c honey
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp vanilla

1 pkg dried cranberries
3 Cups Corn flakes

In a very large bowl, blend the first 4 ingredients. Then in a large saucepan combine the second group of ingredients and heat until the sugar is disolved, but do not boil. Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well coated. Spread into 3 jelly roll pans/cookie sheets (this may seem like a very thin layer but that is what you want, trust me). Bake at least 35-45 minutes at 300*, turning after 20 minutes. Cool and add Corn flakes and dried cranberries or other fruit if desired. Store in airtight containers in a cool dry place.

* the nice thing about this is you can add as much of the coconut, nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, or any other ingredient you want to your liking. Other ideas that I've seen but i never seem on hand to add are... 1c wheat germ, 2 c sunflower seeds, and 1 c sesame seeds. Just make it how you like and have fun with it! :) My favorite is adding the corn flakes because it's like i'm making my own honey bunches of oats cereal! 

Breakfast Quiche and Pancakes for Dinner

Tonight I decided to make Breakfast for dinner. One of Joe's favorite is Quiche so I decided to make it with some pancakes to make it more of a meal. Here is the recipe for you all to enjoy!

Tater, Ham and Potato Quiche

Ingredients:

6oz frozen hash browns

2 Tbsp. Butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Dash or two of onion powder

2 eggs

1/2 c milk

1/2 tsp mustard

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1 c cooked ham, diced

1/2 c frozen peas

Directions:

Start melting the butter in a heated skillet over medium high heat. Add frozen potatoes so it's one single layer. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat until butter is completely melted and well mixed. Put into buttered pie pan. Bake at 400* for 20 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven. Prepare filling by beating eggs with milk and mustard. Add salt, pepper, and onion powder. Layer cheese, ham, and peas in potato crust. Pour milk mixture over top. bake 350* for 34-40 minutes. 

Serves 4

For our pancakes I also made some basic homemade maple syrup, here is the recipe as well. This is a great recipe if you just need to whip up some fast syrup.

Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp Mapleine extract

2 cups sugar

1 cup boiling water

Directions:

Boil water, add sugar and mapeline, remove from heat. Stir until well mixed and sugar is dissolved. Serve hot!