Making your own granola is really very simple.
This peanut butter version is over the top!
I am thoroughly enjoying my last month and a half with the two older kids in school. Yep, I said it. I am that mom who enjoys sending the little cherubs off each morning and not seeing them again till 3:30.
I miss them, they miss me, but it does us all some good for a little time apart. Major props to all homeschooling mamas out there, I'm not sure how you do it. Just thinking of putting my kid's schooling in MY HANDS gives me heart palpitations. What would I teach them? How to bake cookies? How to swing a golf club? I mean I have a college degree, but common core math is over my head and I'd just rather leave it to the professionals.
With this being said, I'm thankful I still have around 30 days left of them in the classroom. I mean, if all else fails it gives me time to make homemade granola.
Also, around this time of year I start to panic just a bit. What activities do I have planned for every hour on the hour all summer long for a 7, 6 and 3 year old?
A frantic run to Target usually solves about 50% of my problems. I stock up on new sidewalk chalk, markers, summer journals, pads of drawing paper, bubbles, little games and other random stuff. I stuff it all in a big box and shove it on a shelf in my laundry room.
Enter a day when it's raining or they are killing each other, and I grab out a "new to them" activity and we get to work. Like I said this works 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time they are swimming in the pool, attending camps, having play dates with friends, going on walks, reading lots of books and the like.
And eating me out of house and home.
Did I fail to mention that?
This big batch recipe of granola is one I haven't made in ages, but I love to have on hand for that very reason of my kids eating me out of my house.
We love eating it as cereal, on yogurt {my favorite}, sprinkled into muffin batter, over crunchy waffles, with fresh summer fruit or just by the handful. While they are still in school I often put it in their lunchbox as well. A super addicting snack! But one I don't mind them eating as I know every single ingredient that is going in their mouth.
I had an almost 3 year old helper yesterday while making this...see those chubby little fingers? She couldn't keep her hands out of it. I want those chubby little fingers to stay that way forever. They are the cutest, don't you think?
Between snacking bites out of my test shots and wanting to snag my blueberries, photography for this shot was a bit challenging but we made it through. See? How am I going to handle three of them?
Please send me all of your summer advice.
Until then I'll be face first in this peanut butter filled granola and loving every minute of it. Make a batch today! It really is so, very easy. It only requires a bit of stirring time over the course of an hour. You can make time for that!
Keep this in an airtight sealed bag for a few weeks {if it lasts that long} or give away smaller bags to friends like I am later today. Whatever works!
Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola
8 c. old fashioned oats
2 c. pecans, chopped
1 c. cashews, chopped
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. honey
3/4 c. peanut butter
2 t. vanilla
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease a high-rimmed baking sheet. I prefer using my roasting pan.
2. In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients; oats, pecans, cashews, brown sugar, salt and cinnmon. Stir to combine.
3. In a large glass measuring bowl or cup place the wet ingredients; coconut oil, honey, peanut butter nd vanilla. Microwave until fully melted. Pour this wet mixture over the dry ingredients and toss to coat.
4. Pour the granola into your roasting pan. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before bagging up.
I've made two other great granolas in my day, be sure to check these out as well. My Almond Butter Granola is similar but a bit different and my Naturally Sweetened Maple Pecan Granola has a whole different taste all together.
But remember, make it your own! Don't have pecans on hand? Add in peanuts. Want it more sweet? Add in your favorite dried fruit. There are endless combinations to try.
