Tasty Tuesdays: The Best Granola in the Whole Wide World

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

I've been too busy moving to do any cooking again this week.  So, I'm posting another one from the archives.  I love this granola recipe!

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I love this granola. It's good - very good. It's delicious with milk, but it's also great on yogurt. And the recipe couldn't be simpler.

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup canola oil

- 1/2 cup honey

- 1 cup turbinado sugar

- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

- 1 cup sliced almonds

- 2 cups of any combination of dried fruit (I used dried cherries & golden raisins)

First, heat oven to 325 degrees. Have two large rimmed baking sheets ready to spread out the mixture.

In a saucepan, over medium-low heat, combine oil, honey, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir frequently, until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes.

When the sugar is dissolved, the mixture will look like this:

In a large bowl, combine the oats and almonds.

Add the warm honey mixture to the oats and stir until entire mixture is coated.

Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring a few times.

Remove from oven and cool completely.

Once cool, place granola in large bowl and add dried fruit.

Granola is finished. . .enjoy!

.Granola will keep in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

Recipe from my Mom who found it in the Grand Rapids Press a few years ago.

And now, a side note on my favorite vanilla extract.

Several years ago I worked on a few projects out in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. I had to travel there several times over a two year period. I fell in love with a shop called Charles H. Baldwin & Sons. They have been making vanilla since 1888! Their vanilla is so strong and flavorful, and so much different then anything I had bought before. I also have their almond and lemon extracts, both of which are also very good. They have an online shop, so even thought I don't have to travel to the Berkshires anymore, I can still enjoy their amazing vanilla. I highly recommend a visit to their shop if you are ever in West Stockbridge, Mass.

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Tasty Tuesdays: Puppy Chow

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

 

I was gone last week on vacation and now this week am in the process of moving!  Things are pretty crazy at the moment.  Hope to fill you all in once I have a chance and hope to get back to regular blog posting as well!

 

I am re-posting an old family favorite recipe. We usually only make this in the summer - it's our go to beach snack.  If you haven't tried it, you're going to want to - this stuff is good!.

 

Ingredients:
- 9 cups Crispix (You could also use Wheat Chex or Corn Chex but I think Crispix is the best)
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (one 11.5 oz. pkg.)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

.First, measure cereal and put into large bowl. Set aside.

 

.Next, in a microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until the mixture can be stirred smooth.

 

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Stir in vanilla.
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Pour mixture over cereal and stir until evenly mixed. This part is a little messy and you need to be careful not to crush the cereal when stirring.
 

Pour into 2-gallon resealable Ziploc bag. Add powdered sugar and shake bag until well coated.

Spread out on wax paper or parchment paper until cool.
 

Enjoy! Be careful though, this is extremely addicting!
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What did you cook this week?

 

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Tasty Tuesdays: BLT Salad

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Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

I'm away on vacation this week so I am re-posting this recipe for a delicious & hearty salad.

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BLT Salad with Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 8 cups romaine
- 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 1/2 avocado (This wasn't in the original recipe but I thought it sounded like a good addition)
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp. sugar ( You can leave this out if you want - I did)
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- salt & pepper to taste
(serves 4)
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I'm still picking a ton of tomatoes from my plants, so this was a perfect way to use up a few!
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1.  In large skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp.  Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
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2.  Halve cherry tomatoes, prepare lettuce, break bacon into small pieces.  Top lettuce with tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese, avocado.
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3.  For vinaigrette, in a small bowl, combine vinegar, sugar and mustard.  Stir well.  Add olive oil and whisk to blended.
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4.  Pour vinaigrette over salad and enjoy!
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Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, June 2009.  See the original recipe here.

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Goose Creek Candle Giveaway Winner

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

I used random.org to select a winner...

 



Congrats to Momma Jess of Baby Steps!

Jess - I do not have your email address so please send me an email so I can pass your information along to Goose Creek.

 

I am flying out to Arizona this afternoon for 9 nights of sun, warm weather, and relaxation!  Have a great weekend!

Tasty Tuesdays #91

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

I don't have a recipe to share this week.  So instead I'm posting a picture of this pretty fall sunset.  The trees were glowing!

Anyways, I'm sure you were cooking this week!

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{ I have a giveaway going on - click HERE to enter }

Fall Decorating & Goose Creek Candle Giveaway

Happy Thursday friends! 

I have a fun giveaway for you today.  It's been a while since I've sponsored one, so I was happy to have the opportunity!

 

 

Last week I posted my Fall Mantel.  I also added a little touch of Fall to my coffee table.  Nothing fancy but to me it definitely looks like Fall. 

 

 

I picked up these gourds at the farmers market last weekend.  So simple, but so pretty.

 

 

 

 

And this dahlia - oh how I love dahlias!

 

 

 

And now, the giveaway!

 

I was recently contacted by the lovely people of Goose Creek Candle Co.  They wondered if I would be interested in trying out a few of their candles and hosting a giveaway.  Why, sure! 

 

What perfect timing.  I don't know about you, but the cooler nights have me wanting to light a candle in the evening.  Goose Creek Candle Co was founded in 1998 and is based in Liberty, Kentucky, where the candles are manufactured.  I love that the candles are made in the good 'ol USA! 

 

 

Vanilla is probably my favorite candle scent, so I selected Goose Creek's Dark Vanilla Bean Scented Jar Candle as my first pick.  It smells wonderful and lightly scents my entire living room while burning. 

 

 

I really like the simple design of the jar and the pretty silver lids.

 

I was in the Fall spirit when I picked out this next scent - Whipped Pumpkin Latte.  Oh boy, does it ever smell good.  Unfortunately, I think its fueling my craving for real pumpkin lattes!

 

 

 

Looking pretty and cozy.

 

 

Would you like to win a 16 oz American Heirloom Jar Candle of your own? 

 

How to enter: 

Here's how you can win. Visit the Goose Creek Candle Co Website. Then come back here and leave a comment below telling me which candle scent you would pick if you win. That’s it! Bonus entries are available for liking 33 Shades of Green on Facebook and/or following 33 Shades of Green on Twitter.  Just leave a separate comment for each of those.

{ Giveaway open to those living in the USA }

How to enter if you don't have a blog:
If you don't have a blog, please comment using the "Anonymous" selection.  Just make sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

I'll pick a winner at random sometime on Thursday, October 11th.

Goose Creek is also offering a special discount code to my readers.  The code is 1050 and is good for 25% off your entire purchase.  The offer expires October 31st.



Tasty Tuesdays: Mini Apple Galettes with Honey Walnut Topping

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

I came up with this recipe a few weekends ago and made it for dessert to take to my Mom's house.  We thought it was delicious.  I had just picked up Michigan apples at the market and wanted to find a special way to use them.

Ingredients:
- 3 cups sliced apples {I used Macintosh }
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 egg beaten lightly
- 1 tablespoon sugar {I used turbinado sugar }
- 1/2 pie pastry recipe { my favorite is this one }
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving


1.  Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix apples in medium size bowl with lemon juice, corn starch, Cinnamon, and brown sugar; set aside.  In another bowl, mix walnuts and honey together; set aside.

2.  Roll out pie pastry.  Use a bowl with a 6" diameter to cut six circles.  Place on baking sheet {I use Silpats to line my baking sheets.  Best thing ever! }

3.  Divide apples evenly among pie pastry and place a heaping mound on each circle.  Repeat with walnut/honey mixture.

4.  Fold up the sides of pastry around apples.  Use egg to seal the crimps if necessary.

5.  Brush the pie pastry with egg wash and sprinkle sugar on each.

6.  Bake in oven for 40-50 minutes or until pie crust is golden.  Cool and enjoy!  Best served the day they are made.  Pie crust never tastes the same the second day, does it?

Here they are, fresh out of the oven...



I served with freshly made whipped cream...yum.  Vanilla ice cream would be equally delicious.

What did you cook this week?

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