The Best Granola

As promised on my Facebook Page (which you should totally "like" if you haven't already), here is my favorite granola.  I hate HATE buying granola from the store.  It's unhealthy, EXPENSIVE and typically pretty blah.  But this granola, oh, it is healthy(er), cheap and so so good.  I usually make a big batch and put it in mason jars bringing one to work for lunch or midday snacks.  Mr. Schwartz caught wind of this and asked me to make him a jar as well.  I can't blame him, this stuff is awesome.  

Start with some coconut oil.  I LOVE this stuff and it is a healthy fat.  If you don't have access to coconut oil (I buy mine at Trader Joe's), you can use butter.  Less healthy, yes, but it will do the trick.

Melt the coconut oil in your pan

Chop up some almonds

Toss the almonds in the pan.

Chop up some cashews too.  I forgot to take a picture of that, I'm pretty sure I was too busy eating them.  Toss the cashews in along with some sunflower seeds.

Stir the nuts around to coat with the coconut oil (or butter) and toast them for just a bit.  Keep stirring as this can go south fast.  You will start to smell the toastiness and then you will know you are on track.

Then toss in some brown sugar

And get out your honey bear.  This honey is from my cousin Colin who, no big deal, has his own bees and harvested it himself.  Thanks Colin, BEST HONEY EVER!

Take the pan off the heat and drizzle in that glorious honey.  Give it a good stir. 

Give it a good stir.

Next add oats (I used Old Fashioned Rolled Oats) to a large bowl.

And some coconut.  I LOVE coconut.

Pour in the nut mixture and stir everything together.

Sprinkle in some salt.  This looks like a lot but I was making a lot! It brings out the natural sweetness of the honey and coconut.

Spread it out evenly on a baking sheet and into the oven it goes for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, give it a good toss to ensure the edges aren't the only thing browning and back into the oven it goes for about 10 more minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely.  Once cooled, it will be all stuck together so crumble it as finely as you would like.  I prefer some bigger chunks and some smaller pieces as well.

There you have it, the best granola ever.

This is my favorite way to enjoy it!  Parfait style with Chobani's Pineapple yogurt.  Seriously amazing.

The best part about this recipe is that you can totally customize it to your liking.  You don't like cashews, use pecans, not a fan of coconut, add more oats instead.  You could even add raisins or dried cranberries after it has cooled.  This granola is totally customizable!

The Best Granola 

2 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil (or butter)
1 cup roasted almonds, very roughly chopped
1 cup roasted cashews, very roughly chopped
2/3 cup roasted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 cup coconut (sweetened is okay)
Large pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Start by melting the coconut oil (or butter) in a large skillet on medium heat.   Once melted, add the almonds, cashews and sunflower seeds.  Stir to coat in the coconut oil (or butter) and continue to stir and let toast for about 3 minutes or so.

Remove from the heat and add the brown sugar and honey.  Stir while you add the honey as this can burn.  Toss everything so it is evenly coated.

In a large bowl, add the oats and coconut.  Pour in the nut mixture and stir so everything is evenly coated and incorporated.  Add the salt and stir again.

Pour mixture onto a large baking sheet as evenly as you can get it and place in the oven.  Bake for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, remove from the oven and give it a quick toss to ensure the edges are not the only thing that get brown.  Back into the oven it goes for 10 more minutes.  After 10 minutes, remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Once fully cooled, break into as big or small pieces as you would like.  I prefer some larger and some smaller in mine for variety.

Serve with yogurt, in oatmeal, on ice cream, eat it plain, whatever floats your boat.

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz

My Favorite Salad

We are going to the lake tomorrow.  For four days.  I couldn't be more excited.  If you follow me on Instagram (krysten_schwartz if you want to follow) you probably think we are at "the lake" every weekend.  Well, two things to clarify 1. we aren't (sadly) and 2. we don't have a cabin--we have been floating from cabin to cabin this summer.  Lucky for us my parents are renting a cabin this weekend for our family.  I can't wait for bonfire snuggles with my nieces, fishing, hopefully catching some sun and playing cards until the wee hours of the morning.  

Until then, this is my favorite salad.  I'm not kidding.  It is a salad that I never get sick of and eat it until the last fragment of lettuce is gone.  I honestly consider licking the plate--the dressing is that good.  I'll get to that though.  The ingredients in this salad can be modified depending on what you have on hand. If you have a pear instead of an apple, use that.  If you have almonds instead of cashews, go for it.  As long as it is coated in this dressing, I don't care if it is a flip-flop I have been wearing all summer.  Just ask Mr. Schwartz about my flip-flops--he loathes them.  Meaning, this dressing is out of control good.  

Okay, enough jabbering, let's make salad. My favorite salad.  

Chop up an apple.

Cut up some romaine and put it in a large bowl.

Add the apples.

Blurry (sorry) green onions.

Swiss--oh I love swiss with this salad.

Cashews.  They look a little funky since I froze them but they tasted juuuust fine.

Pour in some heaven in a jar.

I'm not kidding, this stuff is ah-mazing, you guys.  I know you think I'm over reacting but I totally heart this stuff.

Oh and don't forget the dried cranberries or cherries, or if you are into raisins (ugh, not for me) use those.

Toss it up and face plant serve.

Hello summer dinner.  Ps. That pork chop, Mr. Schwartz kills it on the grill.

Make this tonight, I mean it.  Then you can write me a letter about how you fell in love with a salad for the first time.  I'll be looking forward to reading it.

My Favorite Salad
(this makes four side salad servings but can easily be multiplied)

1 green apple, chopped
2 heads of romaine, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
2/3 cup cashews
1 cup (or more if you are like me) shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup (more or less depending on your liking) Jimmy's Sweet and Sour Dressing 
1/2 cup dried cranberries

In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and toss.  Easy as that! : )

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz--kinda, this recipe has been so modified by a recipe in one of my Mom's cookbooks that has a homemmade poppyseed dressing.  I like Jimmy's better and added and took out a bunch of stuff.  Over and out.