I fall under the majority of the population who feel that Valentine’s Day is a bit of a Hallmark-made holiday, but I also appreciate the opportunity for my family and friends to tell me how much they love me. Scratch that. I meant I love to take the opportunity to tell them how much I love them. Homemade snacks are definitely the way to show your affection. Especially a healthy snack that won’t make them feel guilty.
This granola recipe was so easy and delicious! Enjoy!
Banana Peanut Butter Granola
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal
2 tbsp. honey
1/3 cup applesauce
1/3 cup mashed bananas
1/3-1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, warmed slightly
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar
1-1 1/2 cups dried banana chips
3/4 cup of raisins or dried cherries
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
3-4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (optional)
* Feel free to add any other seeds (flax, etc) you wish. Anything works.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and puffed rice cereal. In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, mashed banana, peanut butter, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until the oat mixture is evenly coated. Spread onto the prepared baking sheet in a thick even layer.
Bake for 30 minutes. Then, using a large spatula, turn the granola over in segments. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Depending on the size of your baking sheet, the center may not be fully dried. If necessary, remove the edges of cooked granola and bake the remaining granola for 10-15 minutes more or until done, being careful not to over-bake. Cool on a wire rack.
Once the granola has cooled, crumble it into a large bowl or plastic bag. Add in the dried banana chips, honey roasted peanuts and bittersweet chocolate, if using. Mix well to combine. Store in an airtight container.
Source: Annie’s Eats
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Your family and friends are so lucky to feel your “love.” You have the most amazing, thoughtful, creative ideas. My daughter just got engaged and I am going bonkers trying to get all the planning done for a November wedding. Your Mom has sweetly been emailing me some wedding info. Wanted to know if you had any creative ideas on how to make the wedding more “special.” We have a budget…which already seems to be way too low, the Rabbi and the Place (marriage and reception at a synagogue). Any thoughts as they come to you would be appreciated. They are a FABULOUS couple together, which is the most important thing. I still have the topper from my wedding cake, but the plastic underneath the lace “skirt” is yellowed. I was thinking I could paint it. There is a tacky styrofoam wedding bell and cheapy looking flowers looped over the bride and groom (I guess a typical topper from 1980. Any and all ideas for anything wedding related will be welcome!