Nana's Granola

I grew up eating this granola, so I'm calling it "Nana's Granola," since that is what my children call my mom. This is a yummy, healthy breakfast that my entire family enjoys. I've taken my mom's recipe, and have added a few things, which I'll explain after the base recipe.

Base recipe:

6 cups Oats (old fashioned)
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup water

mix ingredients and put in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 300* for 10 minutes. Take out, stir, then bake for 10 more minutes.

My additions:
I play around with this recipe every time I make it.
Some ideas or additions that I have used:
sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, dried blueberries, cherries, apricots, cranberries, and flax seed.

Substitutes:
Lately, I use the organic extra-virgin coconut oil to replace the canola oil. This is super healthy! For an explanation on why coconut oil is healthy, visit my very knowledgeable sister-in-law, Robyn's website: Green Smoothie Girl.
**The coconut oil adds a yummy taste, however, it might be too sweet for some. So, I have also done 1/4 cup canola and 1/4 cup coconut.

Flaxseed: I add ground flaxseed after I bake the granola. Truth be told, I think my family prefers the flax in the granola. It has a very mild, light flavor and adds a hint of a nutty touch. Obviously this is hard to explain, but I think you'll like it. Especially given the important health factors! The seed is prized for its many vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, the essential polyunsaturated fats that may reduce the risk of heart disease. Flaxseed and ground flax are also rich in fiber and lignans, hormones thought to inhibit breast and prostate cancers.
You can buy the seeds whole and grind them yourself with a grinder, or buy them already ground (look for "flax meal" on the label). It is important to eat the seed grounded. I used to use the whole seed, but found out that the meal's nutrients are easier for the body to absorb.
I also use flax meal in many other recipes. I add it to my green smoothies, pancakes, french toast, muffins, turkey meatloaf, etc. You can pretty much sneak it into anything, and your family doesn't even know that they are getting such great nutrition! :)

Marinade for Steak

This is a healthy & yummy recipe that I have always used for Flank Steak (obviously, since that is the name of the recipe). However, recently, I have used it for many different types of steak while grilling outside and have really come to love this versatile, no-fail marinade.
This comes from the Eating for Life recipe book by Bill Phillips. I really like this book for some basic healthy & easy recipes.

Marinated Flank Steak

1/3 cup lite soy sauce
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 flank steak (about 11/2 lbs)

In a large Ziploc bag , combine ingredients. Using a fork, pierce flank steak several times on both sides and place in Ziploc bag with marinade. Seal bag and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Put steak on broiler pan. Broil 3 inches from heat source for about 6 minutes on each side. Bon appetite!

Zucchini Bread

Like many people, I have had a lot of zucchini growing in my garden lately. Every day last week I grilled a mixture of veggies (asparagus, yellow and red peppers, beans, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini) with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. What more can I do with zucchini? Well, bread, of course! I have tried a couple of different recipes and I think I found a winner. Mr. D claims this his favorite. I thought I'd share with you the yummy recipe for Zucchini Bread.
***A couple of changes I did: I added more lemon juice and lemon zest. It calls for 3 cups of sugar but I only did 2 cups. And, It calls for 3 1/4 cup flour and I did 2 1/4 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat. I also did not put in any nuts.
If you try this let me know what you did and what you liked. I always love good ideas.


images from Martha Stewart

Blonde Brownies

Blonde Brownies

2/3 cup margarine, softened
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 1/2 TBS water
2 3/4 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips
**** you can play with this: i used 1/3 semi-sweet, 1/3 white chocolate, and 1/3 of the mixed/swirled white and chocolate chips..... next time I think I'll try peanut butter chips mixed with chocolate, or no chips and frost the bars with a yummy chocolate frosting.

Mix first seven ingredients together, then add flour. Blend together. Add chocolate chips and stir. Spread mixture into 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 340 degrees for 22-24 minutes. Bake only until the bars begin to slightly brown on the edges.

Cherry-Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: The Best Frosting!

Unlike my husband, I love frosting. He eats the cake and I eat the frosting. That makes a good match in my book! :) If you are on my team, then you'll love this AMAZINGLY YUMMY buttercream frosting recipe, because not all frosting's are created equal. No. No. There is decent frosting, and there is AMAZING frosting. This happens to be AMAZING! If you happen to make it, let me know what you think. I use this on cupcakes, particularly chocolate. I have also used this as the frosting for homemade Oreo's, and my kids like it on grahm crackers. Basically wherever you feel a need to frost something. Sometime I'd like to mix it up and try a raspberry preserve, or strawberry, or apricot.....


Cherry-Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
11/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2/3 cup tart cherry preserves ( I used the Bonne Maman Preserves)

Beat confectioners' sugar and butter on medium-low speed until well-blended. Add vanilla and heavy cream; beat for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in cherry preserves until well-incorporated.

White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies Cookies

To mix things up, I decided to try a new cookie recipe and found this one from Paula Deen. Now, instead of candied cherries, I used dried cherries. Some people really liked the entire cookie, however, a few liked the cookie, just not the cherries. So, if your family doesn't like the idea of cherries, maybe try cranberries instead. I personally liked the cherries, but I'll try the cranberries next to see how that turns out. It's a yummy recipe!

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

Here is a yummy dinner recipe that I found on this site. You can use corn tortillas or flour. I used more lime juice and less chili powder than it calls for. It is tasty!

Yummy! Yummy!

One of my favorite homemade sandwiches happens to be another Pioneer Woman specialty recipe. The blend of tomatoes, Dijon, cheese, and Chilies is just marvelous! Mr. D sure enjoys this as well. Just try it and let me know what you think! It just so happens that the "name" of the sandwich is: Pioneer Woman's Favorite Sandwich.

The Best Cakes Ever!

So almost every Sunday we go to dinner at my parents and my mom makes a tasty meal. She is an excellent cook and she makes some exceptionally excellent desserts. We just celebrated my sister's birthday and my mom made a White Chocolate cake that was so yummy! She uses this fabulous cookbook called The Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn. May I recommend some of my families favorites? 1. The Perfect Chocolate Cake, 2. My Favorite Birthday Cake (a yellow cake with chocolate frosting), and 3. White on White Cake (white chocolate). These are not just my favorites.....everyone loves these. They are requested all the time. There are many great recipes in this book, and we pretty much enjoy everything she makes. But those are our top three. Bon Appetite!

Tasty Key Lime Pie

I have been in the mood to try new recipes lately. Whenever the seasons change, I get in the mood for all things "different." I clean, organize, re-arrange the decorations, try new recipes,and dream of redoing certain rooms, etc. Well, I happened upon this yummy pie. I love Key Lime Pie! I love anything citrus-ish! But, I have never had a frozen Key Lime Pie, and I was really impressed with this recipe. It will be a great refreshing dessert for a warm summer evening. I can't wait for both... summer and dessert!