Best granola ever

For Scott, since he says this recipe played a part in convincing him to marry me.

From a recipe from a friend of a friend. If you buy your ingredients right, you'll save a lot compared to buying granola at the store... not to mention it's quite healthy, and it's sooo good!

Dry ingredients (blend together first)

• 6 cups quick oats*
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds (maybe a little less if you're not that into them)
• 1/2 cup dry milk

Wet ingredients

• 2/3 cup oil
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 Tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Optional (add after baking)

• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup pecans

Mix together dry ingredients evenly, then add wet ingredients (works best if mixed a little first). Grease two pans (or use parchment paper) and bake at 300* until golden brown, about 25 min. Stir as needed to avoid burning.  Let cool, then store and eat! (note: it will clump up a little as it cools).

*I just tried this using part old fashioned oats instead of only quick, and it was good. :)

Zuppa Toscana

For Dad.

Dad's birthday is coming up, so I'm making his favorite soup from Olive Garden...Or at least my interpretation.

• 1.5 lb Italian sausage (sliced or crumbled, preferably seasoned)
• A few tablespoons chopped bacon or bacon bits
• butter or olive oil
• One large onion, finely diced
• garlic (powder or fresh)--1-2 tsp?
• ~7 (14.5oz) cans chicken broth
• 1 cup Half & Half
• 3 large potatoes, sliced in quarters
• several leafs of kale, chopped

Heat/brown the sausage. Add fennel seeds, red pepper, or other seasonings only if desired (if sausage isn't already seasoned--mine had some red pepper and more spicy stuff). Add in bacon, set aside.

In a soup pot, saute the onion in olive oil or butter. Add the garlic.

Add chicken broth, bring to a light boil. Add potatoes. Once potatoes are soft, turn down the heat some and add the half & half. Once this is heated & mixed, finally add in kale & the sausage (my opinion, the kale is better once soft...it has really great nutritional value, too).

Enjoy!

...or in Dad's case, add lots of hot sauce and keep a napkin handy to dry your sweating head. ;)