Granola

My friend Gina passed this recipe along to me and now it's my latest breakfast fave. I made yet another batch today.  I've tweaked it a bit to include only ingredients that I like (no thank you on pumpkin seeds) and are easily accessible to me. Feel free to adapt this recipe in any way that makes sense to you; it really is quite versatile.  As for dried fruit, I think cherries are a must. I love this with milk and especially appreciate the fact that it fills me up for much longer than my other breakfast options.  Enjoy!

GRANOLA

• 3 cups oats
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut chips
• 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cup almonds, roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• dried fruit 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

Line a rimmed backing sheet with parchment paper.  

In a large bowl, combine oats, seeds, coconut, nuts, and salt.  Stir to mix. 

Add maple syrup and coconut oil and stir until well blended.  

Spread mixture in an even layer on the baking sheet.  

Bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until the granola is brown and toasted, about 45 minutes.  

Cool completely. 

Add dried fruit.  

Store in an air tight container.  Glass jars work nicely.

Source: Emily Cavanaugh

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

Welp, summer has come and gone and I'm back to the heat and the sand.  It's actually quite nice to be back to my bed and a routine. And, it's amazing to not be new to everything.  So amazing that I might just stay one more year . . .

I cooked very little this summer because I was busy meeting friends for lunch (Qdoba mostly), playing outside, and spending time with these two.

One of the few things I did make this summer was this yummy bean dip.  If you need something quick and tasty to take to a get together, this is it.  The dip was garlicky and the pita chips slightly chewy (which is how they should be, in my opinion).

Tuck this recipe away for when you're in a pinch for time (and money) because homemade doesn't get easier than this!

WHITE BEAN DIP

• 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt
• pepper

Place beans, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and parsley in the food processor. 

Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped.  

Season with salt and pepper, to taste. 

PITA CHIPS

• 6 pitas
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• oregano

Cut each pita into wedges. 

Arrange pita on a large baking sheet.  

Pour olive oil over pitas and toss to coat evenly.  

Spread out wedges evenly and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until toasted and golden in color. 

Source:  Giada De Laurentiis