Hey guys!
Happy second day of SPRING! Hopefully, you are all seeing some fantastic weather FULL of all the extras from Bambi! As for me? Well, I guess I jinxed myself going on and on about how MARVELOUS it was this past weekend, because since then, we’ve had a torrential downpour, a tornado warning, and today, they’re calling for snow.
So, who wants to move to Tennessee? 😯
But enough about crappy weather…I want to say a big HUGE thank you to each and every one of you who left a comment on Monday’s post wishing me well on my recovery. I want you guys to know that your good vibes are indeed working!
After seeing the physical therapist on Tuesday, I was given a list of exercises and stretches to work on at home. I spent most of that night and a good part of yesterday morning completing all of my assigned “homework” and GUESS WHAT!
At my SECOND appointment, I showed IMMENSE improvement!
I can almost straighten my leg all the way, I can almost bend it to 90 degrees, and I can ALMOST dance a jig! 😉
So, to show my gratitude for all the well wishes, good vibes, and heart-felt prayers, please, do me the honor of accepting this freshly baked pie…
GRANOLA!!
It’s only been what…two weeks since I first teased you with it?!
Well, I polished off the last of my batch yesterday morning…which is actually a testament to its shelf life…see, I was just looking out for you guys! 😉
With Greek yogurt, apple sauce, and of course, cinnamon!
But all excuses aside, I figured it was about time I stopped galavanting around grocery stores on motorized wheelchairs dawdling and finished editing the pictures for this post!
Ohhh, purrrrrrrdy! 😀
When I first saw Meghan’s recipe for Apple Pie Granola, I KNEW I had to make it. I mean, what’s not to love? Crunchy walnuts? warm spices? sweet cranberries? all enveloped in the flavor of a fresh crisp apple!
So I gathered all of my ingredients…
Walnuts?…check!
Spices?…check!
Cranberries?…check!
Fresh crisp apple?…mother &%&$&!!!
Of course at this point, I already had my mouth mind set on crunchy apple pie goodness so what did I do? I Googled the hell out of some granola recipes of course!
In the end, this is what I came up with…and I have to say, for my very FIRST granola recipe, I’m pretty darn proud of myself! 😀
Apple Pie Granola
by
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Keywords: bake breakfast snack dairy-free vegan vegetarian oats fall winter
Ingredients (Makes 14 servings)
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom (optional but HIGHLY recommended)
- 1 cup apple juice
- 2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses (or regular molasses, though blackstrap is FULL of nutrients!)
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/2 teaspoon butter extract (optional)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine oats, spices, and nuts in a large bowl and stir well.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together apple juice, molasses, and extract(s).
4. Pour liquid mixture over oat mixture and stir well.
5. Spread evenly onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes (stirring halfway through) or until oats are crisp and golden.
6. Allow to cool before stirring in cranberries.
7. Serve over creamy Greek yogurt for a light breakfast or snack.
Nutrition facts per 1/3 cup serving:
Yes, that would be ONE THIRD cup serving…none of that measly ONE FOURTH cup bull&%$!
Seriously, granola companies? Why must you tease us?!
It’s light, it’s crunchy, it’s warm, and FILLED with everything but bull&%$ flavor!
Actually, it reminds me of some of my favorite pancakes! 😀
Have you ever made homemade granola?
What are your favorite granola add-ins?
