Sweet and crunchy granola

I’ve always loved granola, whether it’s sprinkled on top of tangy yogurt, eaten as cereal with milk or just a grab-and-go snack.  Although I usually prefer steel cut oatmeal, rolled oats work perfectly for granola and still contribute to our daily intake of whole grains.  Here’s my recipe for a delicious sweet and crunchy, maple-olive oil granola.               

           

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (hulled)

1/4 cup pistachios (hulled)

1/4 cup dried cherries

2 tbsp golden raisins

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/8 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

Method:

1) Combine oats, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, maple syrup, olive 
   oil, cinnamon and salt in large bowl

2) Preheat oven to 300F

3) Spread mixture evenly onto lined baking sheet

4) Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown

5) Mix with dried cherries and raisins, let cool and enjoy

Mmmm.....
Simply delicious with plain yogurt, honey, pear slices and a handful of blueberries

Cherry chocolate chip muffins

Here are some muffins that I grew up eating.  They're so easy to make, extremely chocolaty and filled with delicious dark cherries, and I always find myself coming back for seconds (or thirds...)!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup (1/2 bag) mini chocolate chips

1 cup frozen dark cherries (cut in half) 

Method:

1) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips   

   in large bowl

2) In small bowl combine egg, milk and oil

3) Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients, stirring until almost  

   moistened

4) Gently fold in frozen cherry halves, making sure not to over

   mix

5) Preheat the oven to 400 F

6) Spoon mixture into lightly greased muffin pans (or greased

   paper liners), filling 2/3 full

7) Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, checking first at 20 minutes

8) Remove from muffin pans, cool on a wire rack, and enjoy