"5K" Granola

I made this easy granola for the 5K walk, but we were too busy walking to eat any of it. It's out of my new Betty Crocker Cookbook (yes, I retired the 40-year-old one that I got from our wedding reception). Preparation time is 10 minutes unless you count the time it takes in the store to round all the ingredients up.

Granola (healthy stuff)

2 c. regular rolled oats
1 c. coarsely chopped sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or chopped pecans
1/2 c. coconut (optional)
1/2 c. shelled sunflower seeds
1/4 c. toasted wheat germ
1/4 c. flax seed (I left this out because I couldn't find any)
1/2 c. honey or maple-flavored syrup (honey is healthier)
2 T. canola oil
1 c. dried fruit (cherries, dates, raisins or craisins)

Combine first six ingredients. In a bowl, mix honey and oil. Add honey mixture to the dry mixture, and spread evenly onto a greased (Pam) cookie sheet. Bake @ 300 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until light brown, stirring after 20 minutes. Stir in dried fruit. Cool. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week or in freezer bags for up to 2 months.

crepes!

I made crepes for breakfast on Sunday...looking back, I think we took the more "dessert" approach, but they were way good. i folded one, rolled another. they have bananas in them, nutella, brown sugar, whipped cream on top, and a little bit of caramel sauce for garnish. the crepes themselves were pretty easy to make. it's just 1 c. flour, 1/2 t. sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla, 1/4 t. salt, 1 c. milk, and 1 egg. mix it all together and then you pour about 1/4 c of batter into a large frying pan at a time, turn the pan so the batter gets really thin, and cook like a pancake. (**use pam or it will definitely stick) also, you have to be careful not to have it on too high of heat or the batter will cook before you can get it thin enough. next time i'm going to try the heartier approach, i'm going to use wheat flour instead of white and maybe try eggs inside, cheese, maybe some ham, more like an omelette.

Golden Squash Soup

OK, all you squash lovers, this is your rainy day "comfort" food for when your spoke breaks and you don't get to participate in the mtn bike race that you've been looking forward to for over a month. Plus it's healthy, especially when you're trying to bulk up with, er . . . cream. Curtis likes it. He ate a big bowl of it, and I don't remember him being a big squash fan.

2 apples (peel, cut and core)
2 1/2 lbs. banana or spaghetti squash (cut in half)
1 c. chicken broth
2 T. butter
1 1/2 c. chopped onions
2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 t. mild curry powder
1 c. apple juice
1 c. cream
Salt to taste (check before adding more)

Place apples and squash face-down on baking sheet. Tent with foil and bake @ 350 for one hour. Let cool. Scoop out squash. Place squash, apples, chicken broth and apple juice in blender (the broth and juice will help the blender moosh it all up). In lg pot, melt butter, then add onions. Saute until onions are barely translucent, not limp. Add salt, pepper, and curry powder. Add squash mixture and cream. Heat through, but avoid boiling. Salt to taste. Serve hot. Makes about 8 cups.

Moongate

I ate lunch today at the Moongate Asian Bistro on Pearl STreet in Boulder. I had Tonkatsu - fillet of pork pressed in seasoning and Japanese panko batter, then fried to golden. As pictured, it came with fried rice and an egg roll. I'd give the rice and roll a 5 out of 10 and the pork a 7 - mostly simple flavors with slightly sweetened asian sauces. Just what I wanted. It was a nice place for lunch but I doubt I'd go there for dinner.

My fortune - The luck that is ordained for you will be coveted by others.

does this look appetizing?

i have not tried to make this, and i never would but i came across this recipe on allrecipes...thought i'd share. it's a twinkie with a hot dog with easy cheese on it. apparently this recipe came from weird al in a movie "uhf"-anyone ever seen it?

Easy Freezey Raspberry Jam

2-12 oz. packages of Frozen Raspberries
3 Cups sugar
1 small package of sure-jell
3/4 cup of water

Put the raspberries in a large microwavable bowl and microwave 50% power for 4 minutes. Stir raspberries - if you want chunkier jelly don't mush them too much- if you want it smooth mush away. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add sugar to berries and let sit for 25 minutes stirring occasionaly. In a seperate bowl (needs to hold at least 4 cups) add water and sure-jell- stir. Microwave for 2-3 minutes. After it starts boiling take it out after 1 minute and stir. Put it back in for remaining time and stir.
Add to berries and stir for three minutes. Put in jars and let sit for 3-4 hours at room temperature until it sets. Freeze for one year or 1 month in fridge.
Makes 3-4 jam jars

Apple Raisin Nut Dessert

Sorry I missed taking a photo. I made this dessert for Jackie Anderson and Pam Allred's families. They came to dinner Tuesday night. Note: This recipe is not Weight Watchers approved, but it's yummy if you like raisins and nuts. Sorry, Brandan.

Apple Raisin Nut Dessert

2 c. peeled, diced apples
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 t. soda
1 c. chopped nuts
3/4 c. raisins (I used white)

Lightly oil 8x8 pan. Mix apples and sugar. Let stand until sugar is dissolved (abt 45 minutes, but you can leave this step out if you're in a hurry). Stir in egg and vanilla, mix. Combine the rest, then add to apples. Put in pan and bake @ 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Topping

1 c. water
1/2 c. brown sugar (Tip: Make brown sugar by dribbling a few drops of molasses over white sugar. This saves you from ever having "hard, stale" brown sugar. Check the package of brown sugar for list of ing. if you think this doesn't make sense.)
1/2 c white sugar
2 T. flour
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. butter

Mix water, sugar and flour. Cook on medium-low heat til thickened. Add butter and other ing. until butter is melted. Pour over hot cake. Cool a little, then serve w/ whipped topping or ice cream (or both).

mongolian bbq-kind of

I made this a couple of weeks ago, it was pretty good. really easy too!
the sauce is:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. cider vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground black pepper
You just boil the sauce for about 5 minutes so the sugar gets well dissolved...
I marinated the pork in it for a few hours, boiled a package of chinese noodles and then cooked it all together with some steamed veggies-broccoli, carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts and baby corn.

welcome to the blog

This is a blog to share adventures in the kitchen! you know, recipes you've tried and liked--or hated. restaurants that you liked--or hated...and whatever else you want to post about food. welcome!!