Tuesday, January 26, 2010

PPA26- Just for You Friend


Wanted to get this in before the Pals Paper Arts challenge PPA26 ends today.. Anything but a card.  I'll make the card later.

Regina at The Cutting Cafe just created this adorable 6" x 3" bag template.  I love it!  She must have been reading my mind.  I was wishing for something big enough to put some of this awesomely yummy granola in that I made this morning.

This stuff is addictive.  Our local grocery store carries something called "Granola Brittle".  It is so yummy but oh so expensive.  I've been on the hunt for a recipe to make something similar and I think I found it.  After a bit of tinkering with the original recipe, I'm in granola nirvana...Mmmmm.  Now I have to get it out of the house before I eat the entire thing!!


This takes only about 10 minutes of actual hands on time, about 20 minutes in the oven and then cooling...if you can wait that long!

My friend, Renee, is getting a share of this batch.  She is my candy guru and one of the most generous people I know.  I told her what my desired outcome was for the granola and she suggested using some white sugar in whatever recipe I found...bingo!  Success...see those nice big chunks?  Yeah, baby!!    Here's her sweet crunchy bag full.


Here's the recipe if you want to try some yourself.

Even Better than "Better than a Bakery Granola"
Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

2c. old fashioned rolled oats
1 t. cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg (less than 1/8 t.)
1/2 t. kosher salt
3 T. plus 1 t. vegetable or canola oil
1/4 c. honey
1/8 c. packed light br. sugar
1/8 c. white sugar
1 t. pure vanilla
2/3 c. whole almonds
2/3 c. dried fruit (I used cranberries and blueberries)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat liner.  In large bowl, toss oats with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and almonds.  In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, honey, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla until blended.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry and mix until everything is well coated.  Spread out evenly on prepared baking sheet.  Don't spread too thin...we want clumps later.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture begins to lightly brown.  Remove from oven, sprinkle the dried fruit over the oat mixture then press it into the warm mixture.

Let cool completely in the pan.  Break into large pieces.  Store in tightly covered container.  (if it lasts that long)

Supplies:  Paper - Papertrey Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, DP
Template - The Cutting Cafe
Stamps - Papertrey Friends Forever
Ink - Berry Sorbet, Versafine
Accessories - Spellbinders scalloped circle dies & long rectangle dies, Martha Stewart punches and flowers, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Mono-Multi


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Clean and Simple Birthday - CAS51

 
This week's Clean and Simple Challenge (CAS51) on Splitcoast was an easy one...use Designer paper.  Now keeping it clean and simple is another matter.
 
I chose a clear dotted acrylic from SU's Night and Day pack and layered it over Neenah Classic White. Overall card size is 5.5" x 3.5".
 
Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate you!
 
Supplies:  Paper - Neenah Classic White, SU Night & Day, SU black, PTI Pure Poppy
Stamps - PTI Floral Fusion
Ink - Pure Poppy, Old Olive, Versafine black
Accessories - Martha Stewart border punch
 
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