Carrie's Favorite Granola

I always have this on hand. I make a batch about once a week. The kids love it as well. We eat it on yogurt or with milk like cereal. Have you tried the Greek Goddess yogurt? Honey vanilla and salted caramel flavor....ummm, hello! Divine.

Cinnamon Honey Granola:

4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola or coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon (of course use Penzey's)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mini chocolate chips or dried fruit.

Mix together oats and coconut in a large bowl. Combine sugar, oil, honey, and cinnamon in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over oats and coconut and stir to evenly coat.

Spread mixture in a thin layer onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking time. Watch closely so it doesn't burn. Cool and break up, mix in chocolate chips or fruit and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Korean Beef

This is a quick, easy dinner. I put rice in the rice cooker and can have everything done by the time it is done. And everyone eats it, double bonus! Throw some fruit and veggies on the side and there's dinner!

Korean Beef:

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh, grated ginger (or can use 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger)
1/2 – 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (depending on how spicy you like it)
salt and pepper
1 bunch green onions, diced
Cooked rice

Directions:Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. Drain any fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.

Boston Lettuce Avocado Salad and Lime Dressing

I have loved this salad from Dave Lieberman and it works so well with a nice Beef Brisket or Short Ribs.

Total Time:  15 minutes
Yield:  6-8 servings

Ingredients

• For the salad:
• 2 small to medium heads Boston lettuce, discard any wilted leaves
• 1 Hass avocado, pitted
• 1 large bunch scallions, thinly sliced
• Leaves from 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

• For the dressing:
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• About 20 grinds fresh black pepper
• 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

Directions

Pull the lettuce leaves from the head, rinse gently under cold water, and lay out on clean towels to dry. Use a spoon to remove the flesh in 1 piece from each half of the avocado. Thinly slice the avocado flesh into thin wedges.

Whisk together all the dressing ingredients.

Arrange the lettuce leaves on a plate and top with the avocado wedges, scallion, and cilantro. Finish with a healthy drizzling of the dressing.

French Dudes

This recipe is from Mom, (I believe from Grandma Eleanor).  It is called French Dudes, but I have google searched this and can't find anything by the name.  I have no idea if they are French or what a Dude is, but they are delicious and I like to make them every Christmas and they remind me of Mom.

Dough
4 1/2 C Flour
1 lb Butter (Mom only buys salted)
3/4 C. Ginger Ale
1 packet Cake Yeast (dry)
1/4 C. Water

Filling/Topping
Apple Butter
Powdered Sugar

Cut butter into flour, add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Cover with waxed paper and put in the fridge overnight.  Take out of fridge one hour before use.  Roll out as for a pie crust and cut into squares.  Put a spoonful of apple butter on each square and fold the corners in.

Bake at 400 degrees about 15-18 minutes (until golden brown).  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.