My best friend invited me for a “play-date” yesterday, and it had been quite some time since we had done one of those. You know how life just gets in the way? The daily routines of chores and dinners and groceries… and the occasional drama, as well (of course!) So, this day was no different with the the obstacles that transpired. My daughter slept and hour and a half later than normal, and instead of using that “free time” wisely, I got sucked into poking around the Internet like a little old lady in a shoe store. I should have been washing dishes, starting laundry, cleaning the fish tank and making my to-do list. Instead I was reading about phone speeds, gawking on Pinterest and stalking on Facebook. Gawking and stalking. Two no-fail time suckers. Then, a quick stop before I got to her house turned into an hour long ordeal. But, I made it there nonetheless.

I went through a dry spell with friends when I first became a mom. I think I told you about this before, right? I had my first mom friend – our kids were just a month and half apart,then she moved away. I’m really bad at phone calls, I’m just not a huge phone talker…and she was, so we simply drifted apart.

Anyway, I met Denise through an attempt to share a ride to a Food Blog Forum conference. We decided to share a room, also and it was meant to be. If you can spend a solid 48 hours with someone and still want to chat more, you know it’s a good sign.

When I went to her house yesterday she had made some homemade granola and as soon as I got near to her door, the inviting aroma of toasty oats and nutmeg surrounded me. “Ooo, it smells like cookies!” I said.

I wish I took pictures…

Glad I have pics of my granola!

Mine is a cranberry-almond-vanilla. I would have had raisins in it if I wasn’t out of raisins. Another thing to buy at the store.

There’s coconut, in there too. I was really surprised my hubby was grubbing on it~ he doesn’t do coconut too much. I love coconut so that works out just fine for me. A little tip for those of y’all looking for a mate: Try to find one with sorta- opposite tastes. Not entirely, just kind of. Oh heck, here’s some examples:

I love pizza crust= hubby doesn’t = I get his crusts

I love coconut = hubby so-so on it= I get the coconut out of the chocolate box

Hubby loves beer= I love beer= we cheers together.

Hubby loves fishing= but, doesn’t eat fish= I get more sushi

I think you get the point.

So, about this granola. I baked it in the oven, but my friend does hers on a dry skillet on the stove top. DUH!!! Why didn’t I think of that??? Because you have to stir it every 15 minutes or so, who wants to stir over a hot oven??!!

Granola is one of those foods that you can add just about anything to…except meat, I guess.

Here’s some add in ideas:

flax seeds ( don’t heat them-add them last, after toasting.)* the oil in flax seeds loses it’s health properties when heated

M&Ms

carob or chocolate chips- (just depends on food allergies or how “hippee” you’re feeling)

dried fruits

assorted nuts

Toasted oat cereal (you know, cheerios)

… of course there’s more. I just totally blanked and stared at the screen for 3 minutes. Then said to myself, “whatever.”

I find myself saying “whatever and really?!” a lot in my head. Do you do that? Like when your kid BLATANTLY tells you four LIES in a time span of 12 minutes. I have a lot of “Really?!” thoughts pouncing around in my noggin during those moments.

Ah… life.

homemade granola

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats I used Scottish
1/2 cup flaked coconut either sweetened or unsweetened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup slivered almonds
3 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons oil
additional dried fruit of your choice add ins: 1 1/2 cups

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350
In a bowl, combine everything EXCEPT the dried fruit
Place on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350 oven for 40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even toasting.