haphazard musings

Oh so far behind...

whew, it has been a long time since I have posted.  I have kind of missed it.  Weird.  Anyway, going back to the end of June.  We went to Manhattan for a wedding and a birthday!

Congratulations to Kent and Rebekah!  And Happy Birthday to Emily!  Some photos for your enjoyment!

   Just to document the craziness that is Ryan's hair. 

Seriously.  I love it!

Emily turned 20!  Yep she is getting up there.  We went to my favorite (or tied for favorite with So Long Saloon) place in Manhattan - La Fiesta!  They make the best chimichangas in the whole world.  Then we went to Kelsey's summer house - think Seattle modern: slate tiles, angled ceilings, particle board flooring (but not really) - and had ice cream cake!  Here is my favorite picture of the big celebration.

Classic Emily - Happy Birthday.

Then on the way home - one of the most beautiful skies ever - and just harvested wheat fields!

  

A New Favorite!

Granola.  I love granola.  For a snack, for breakfast cereal, for whatever - yum.  Ryan has been calling me a hippie lately, due to my ridiculous obsession with granola. 

So problem:
Granola at the store in the cereal isle...kind of expensive.  The one I was enjoying was 6 bucks a box.

Remedy:
Blog reading and recipe hunting - discovered a recipe for granola.  YUM!

I thought I would share it. 

3/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. honey
1/3 c. veggie oil (I use a little less and a little more honey!)
5 c. oats (not the quick kind)
1/2 c. dry milk
and whatever mix-ins you like.

Here are the steps.

Add these ingredients to a pan, bring to light boil stirring frequently.  Heat until all sugar is dissolved.

In the meantime, mix the remaining ingredients in a 13x9 pan (I like to line it with foil and spray it with cooking spray).  I mix it up with craisins, raisins and almond slivers and if the mood strikes me cinnamon.

  

I made a double batch - hence two pans.  Yep love granola.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and combine.  This takes a little elbow grease, but get everything nice and sticky.

Then bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.  Stir it twice during that time so the top doesn't burn.  

Let it cool completely before transferring to another container. (trust me)

I enjoy mine most often like this.