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Thursday
Jan142010

a healthy new year

I had a few too many balls in the air this year come Christmas, so a couple of things had to get bumped to the week after Christmas. The Christmas cards became New Years cards, the gifts for the teachers were delivered after the holiday break instead of before it, etc. It was actually a nice change of pace since that week between Christmas and New Years is usually a pretty quiet one around my home: the kids are happily playing with their new gifts from Santa, there's nothing on the calendar besides visiting with family and taking down the Christmas tree.

I'm new to having kids in school, and I'm still figuring out what makes a nice teacher gift, but I did see what the other kids were bringing before the break: lots of candy and sweets. Now I enjoy those things too, but I get a little overloaded with sugar during the holidays, and by January..  I'm ready for something nice and healthy.

Which brings me to this delicious recipe for Granola. A few years back, my friend Katie hosted a brunch at her home and made this granola. Even though her table was filled with delicious breakfast treats, I kept going back for more granola. It's that delicious! And now we make it all the time. This recipe makes a big batch, so we share some with our friends and keep the rest in the fridge. Topped with a few big spoonfuls of  Greek yogurt, a splash of milk, and a big pile of berries, it is the perfect breakfast.

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Reader Comments (29)

Mmm...that sounds so good. I think I'll definitely be making that soon. Detox after Christmas.

01.14.2010 | Unregistered CommenterBrittany

ohhh yum!! what a great gift!!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterABby

So good to know I am not alone. I too was so overloaded with projects and other commitments leading up to christmas that I failed to finish everything I planned to make for gifts before the holiday...so just last week some boxes filled with jars of our house granola, a homemade oatmeal pancake mix, jam we canned earlier, and jars of mexican hot chocolate mix were sent out to some relatives as a sort of "breakfast in a box." I like to believe this is almost better to receive later anyway since something food related might be more welcome when you are not so inundated with all the holiday foods...

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterHolly

Sounds tasty, might be tempted to make some this weekend!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterPetit Filoux

I also gave granola to my kid's teachers at school. I should try that recipe. I usually make this recipe: http://orangette.blogspot.com/2008/02/consider-it.html which I like a lot because other than being super yummy it only has 2tbsp of oil per batch. But I should try the one you made because from reading it sounds the flavor is completely different.

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterMery

i love home made granola too! you're right - it's the sort of healthy, delicious breakfast that you never feel about taking second helpings.

01.15.2010 | Unregistered Commenterlindsay

what a great idea...and super cute packaging! the recipe looks yummy too...I love granola...

01.15.2010 | Unregistered Commenterstacy di

How funny - I also gave the teachers granola for Christmas! My recipe is here:

http://eatingthedaisies.blogspot.com/2009/12/gift-giving-teachers.html

Have you seen this post about A Collection A Day?

http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/2010/01/11/a-collection-a-day/

Thought of you when I read it. Happy New Year!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterKateB

I was wondering about the jars you used, did you save them or buy them just for this? They are perfect!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterLisa

I did New Years cards, too! Making my own granola is on my to-do list for the new year. I'm sure everyone loved their gifts!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered Commenterjen jafarzadeh

Sounds delicious! You've inspired me to make it. Did you use unsweetened coconut or sweetened?

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterLaura

hi! i'm a new commenter, but i've been following your blog for a few months.
this granola looks delicious! i'd love to make some, but i have one hesitation: i'm not a huge fan of coconut. does the coconut taste stand out? do you have any recommendations for a substitute?
i love the packaging!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterMichal

What a great and delicious idea. Will be making some up for my family today.
Cheers
Engracia

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterEngracia

What a beautiful homemade gift! I would have greatly appreciated homemade granola when I was working in the schools.

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterAnnette

thanks so much for this! i've been meaning to try my hand at homemade granola. i'll have to do it this weekend now

01.15.2010 | Unregistered Commenterliz stanley

As a preschool teacher sometimes all the gifts overwhelming when you don't have much space for it all. To have something homemade means the world to us! It means that it came from the heart and truly took time. Don't get me wrong I am happy with the things I recieve because it shows their appreciation for what I do. But I can just see myself enjoy a nice bowl of homemade granola on a Saturday morning while drinking my coffee and reading a magazine. NOW that to me is sheer bliss!

01.15.2010 | Unregistered CommenterKiersten Johnosn

that is a really great idea. I've been meaning to try to make granola too; I'll have to give it a try next week. thanks!

01.17.2010 | Unregistered CommenterAimee

ooohhh...what is that script font? Must know! (like the serif too.)

01.19.2010 | Unregistered Commenterlana

i too would like to know where you got your jars and how many jars you can fill with the recipe. i want to make this for the hostess gifts for my baby shower. thanks!

01.20.2010 | Unregistered Commentererin

Hi Lana, the script font is called Buttermilk by Jessica Hische.
And Erin, I just re-used jars I had around. The recipe makes quite a bit, so I would think you'd be able to fill about 8-10 jars, depending on the size.

01.20.2010 | Registered CommenterBrooke

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