Toasted-Coconut Granola

Recipe from Nekisia Davis of Early Bird Foods found on Martha Stewart

Makes 7 cups

Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, hulled

• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds, hulled

• 1 cup coconut flakes

• 1 ¼ cup raw pecans, coarsely chopped (I prefer almonds instead)

• ¾ cup pure maple syrup, preferably Grade A (I prefer Grade B dark maple syrup for all recipes I make)

• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ½ cup packed light-brown sugar (I prefer dark brown sugar also for all recipes I make)

• Coarse salt

Steps to make it

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Place oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, pecans, syrup, olive oil, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Spread granola mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, stirring every 10 minutes, until granola is toasted, about 45 minutes.

   1. I have silicon mats that I use in my bigger cookie sheet for this.

   2. I set my oven timer to 45 minutes and Alexa to 10 minute increments and have learned to pull the granola to the center of the pan, then turn so I can keep it from spilling out of the pan (it’s an imperfect science that still results in some spillage)

3. Remove granola from oven and season with salt (I never remember to season again with salt). Let cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

   1. I stir again after it’s cooled for 10 minutes to keep it from clumping together

   2. I spoon it into a few gallon wide mouth jars and then when it is harder to spoon out, I take out the silicon mat and pour the rest in.

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While I do love writing these, I had such a busy week last week that by Sunday when I’m usually revising and wrapping up and scheduling a recipe, the only energy I had was re-watching Bridgerton to obsess over the costumes. My goal this year is to sew clothes that are funky and interesting and feel like pajamas. I think I am going to add this smocked white shirt to my inspiration images for future sewing. One major thing I’ll have to figure out before that happens is learning how to smock. I have been helping quite a few folks sew lately and all the creative pattern making and refashioning has been making me take chances in other arenas which I love. May you all have a creative outlet that changes your perspective and makes you take chances. They don’t all work out, but at least I tried.

One of my favorite things to have for breakfast is fresh fruit (typically pineapple) with yogurt (typically coconut yogurt) and granola. I was buying granola before Alyssa and Avery moved into my house during covid. They always made their own granola and I realized it is so dang easy and a lot less expensive! And it looks really pretty in the jars on my counter top. And the thing that typically ruins store bought for me - it tastes SO MUCH BETTER.

I love this picture of Maddie so much. She was enjoying the doggy cupcakes that Roxy brought her when she got to meet and terrorize Roxy’s new puppy. I got Maddie when she was 12 and while she never liked to play with toys, she did enjoy going for short walks and car trips and eating most of all. I’m not sure how many of you have had the privilege of loving a real old dog but you find yourself walking much slower for however long they want to and allowing them more human food and cleaning off of the dishes. Part of it is that sometimes their dog food needs some cheese or an egg to get them to eat it. But then there is also the part of it that is a celebration of one more day they are alive and not miserable. The joys get smaller as they lose hearing and the interest in playing becomes the joy they have in cleaning up your dishes prior to going into the dishwasher. Maddie especially loved cleaning off the spoon and bowl when I had yogurt for breakfast. She would sit next to me and let me know if I was eating it too slowly. Normally this clearing of dishes happens after age 13.

But then I brought home a puppy. A puppy who idolized Maddie (she did not feel the same). A puppy who would feel as much satisfaction licking a perfectly clean spoon or bowl once Maddie had finished. Who learned to let me know when I was eating too slow. And once Maddie was gone, he took over cleaning duties. And I didn’t have the heart to stop the behavior. Because I am thankful for him. And also because I am a sucker. But as Natalie would say: “Who could say no to this face?”

Or this one?

Or this one?

Obviously not me.