Granola Snack Mix

I love Granola! You can make it yourself so much cheaper than you can buy it.When you make it, you can add the flavors and goodies you love and crave! It's win-win!
This is my favorite one to use as a starting point, I never make it the same way twice.

The Best Granola Recipe

5 Cups old fashioned oats
3 cup almonds Chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
3/4 un-toasted sesame seeds
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
3/4 applesauce
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
2 Tblsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
 1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips or any kind of chips you would like.
the zest of one orange (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 300*
 Let me say this at this time : I did not have any sunflower seeds or sesame seeds, so I left them out. I added wheat germ. You can put what ever nuts you would like. I put about a cup of pretzels chopped and 1/4 cup Heath bar bits. Like I say you can take it and make it your own. Okay , I will now resume the recipe.....as you were....

In a large bowl mix the first 6 ingredients . In a separate measuring cup mix all of the wet ingredients and pour over and mix , put on two cookie sheets . ( I sprinkled the Heath bits on top of the pans of granola) put in oven and cook for 45 minutes stirring every 10 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with 1/2 cup chips ( I used cinnamon chips) Let the chips and the granola cool . The chips will melt and cause some of the granola to stick together,Yummy clumps of goodness!!

This is so good ! Add what you like leave out what you don't! I think Craisins and white chocolate chips would be good together with a little orange zest. The flavors are limited only by what you have on hand!

It's Giveaway Time!!!

I can't believe I reached 1000 "Likes" on my Facebook page!!!   When I stared the page I thought at least my Family and friends would follow me... I had no idea it would take off like it did! I just am humbled to have anyone read my ideas and recipes and follow me as I share what I like !
 As a thank you , I am going to give away 3 cookbooks. You know my love for cookbooks!

So, I have picked 3 of my favorites for you!  So without further ado... here are the ones I have chosen, I hope you like them.

I love Paula Deen cookbooks! And this one has some really good recipes in it!! Fix-it and forget It, If you have a crockpot you need this cookbook!! It has every recipe you will ever need for your crockpot!
Pampered Chef...Need I say more?

All you have to do to enter is follow the steps on the rafflecopter ! Good luck!!

The Giveaway will end Friday March 22

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Strawberry Tart !

 In Honor of PI day I have made a lovely Strawberry Tart! Oh it is so light and tasty, just a delicate hint of lemon! It would be lovely for Easter!

Recipe for crust:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
2 tablespoons cold shortening (recommended: Crisco)
1/4 cup ice water

Put everything but the water in a food processor and pulse until it resembles peas,

Add ice water through the tube and pulse until it comes together,

Place on counter and form a ball and flatten slightly and put in refrigerator until for 30 mins. Roll out and place in tart shell,put a layer of parchment and then dried beans or pie weights and bake for 10 minutes  in preheated oven at 375*, then remove parchment and beans and bake for 5 more minutes or until lightly browned. Set on counter to cool




 Cream filling

2 cups milk
1/3 cup corn starch
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 vanilla bean split
1 Tbl butter
the zest of half a lemon
3 egg yolks

Put all of the ingredients in a blender(except vanilla bean) or use an immersion blender and mix thoroughly. Pour in pan and add vanilla bean, cook stirring constantly on med heat until it thickens.
remove bean and scrape the beans out and add to the pan and stir in butter.
Put plastic wrap on top of filling and cool.

Fill tart shells  and decorate with 2 pints of strawberries ! Enjoy!!

I hope you enjoy it!!!