It's a Winner: Classic Cranberry-Almond Granola

A few weekends ago, I went all type-A, Martha Stewart, "please leave my kitchen because I'm trying to cook here, you're lovely, I'm so glad you're here, but I'm really trying hard to not burn this bacon and I'm going a little nuts."

In other words, I made brunch for eight. And I loved it -- planning out the menu, shopping for ingredients, waking up early to bake Oatmeal-Raisin Muffins and the blueberry crumble, going into hyper-hostess mode. Even knowing that I can't use a microwave and I've never made brownies from a box, my friends were still a little surprised that I made granola.

It's really not hard. You should try it. Soon.

When I got to my Thanksgiving break destination, I was engaged in a granola bake-off about an hour after arrival. I don't know how these things happen. This is just my life. Spontaneous bake-offs happen.

Luckily, I knew what to make: Classic Cranberry-Almond Granola, a chewy granola full of dried cranberries and sliced almonds. It's sweetened by a little honey and coconut flakes and it's great for breakfast... or by the handful for a snack.

It's not hard at all. Give it a try. 

And the bake-off? I won. Of course.

Classic Cranberry-Almond Granola
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3 tablespoons honey
5 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
2/3 cup tightly packed coconut flakes (I use unsweetened)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Combine all dry ingredients, except for the coconut, in a bowl. Add the honey and canola oil and mix well. Spread the mixture out on a baking sheet.

Stirring every 10 minutes, bake the oats for 30 minutes or until they are golden-brown and just slightly moist.

Let the granola cool for ten minutes. Use a spatula to scoop up the granola and store it in an airtight container, stirring in the coconut flakes.

Slip Away

It started off so well.

I started packing with all the best intentions. I carefully rolled up my jeans and and folded my t-shirts. I added gym shorts and socks. And then it all went to hell.

I chucked presents -- a bag of coffee, a tin of tea, chocolate bars, and coffee cake -- in my suitcase. I dropped my yoga mat nearby and hoped I'd remember it. After an hour at the gym, I slipped off my sneakers and threw them across the room towards my suitcase... and I don't really have good aim.

When my cab arrived and it was time to leave for the airport, I almost walked out of my apartment without my suitcase.

It doesn't really matter though. Because I've slipped away for a few days. Because I'm somewhere where I can wear a t-shirt and flip flops. Because I'll recharge and relax, just in time for that crazy rush of life that happens between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I'll just work around the fact that I forgot my hair brush.

Truth

"Whatever satisfies the soul is truth" - Walt Whitman

This is my truth.

Roasting chicken breasts with olive oil and lemon juice and inadvertently falling asleep, only to wake up to the smell of roast chicken. Waking up before the sun rises to go to the gym because the evening is so back-to-back busy that bicep curls and pushups can only happen at 6am. Planning a week in advance to make pecan pies -- one basic, one with coconut flakes and chocolate -- for L's Thanksgiving dinner. Finally learning to cook the perfect steak. Hauling myself out of bed after only a few hours of sleep to run ten miles.. because I couldn't imagine not running. Calling M at 7am to discuss the merits of medium versus dark coffee roasts.

What's your truth?

Brunch Part II

At 11am, the eggs are in the pan. I turn off the hip hop -- playing at full volume -- and put on the Big Chill soundtrack.

Wait. Let me back up.

I was out of bed at 7:45am, stumbling to the kitchen to pour muffin batter into tins before I turned the lights on or brushed my teeth.

The next three hours and fifteen minutes were busy. The kitchen -- walls covered in notes and to do lists just like a war room -- turned into the nerve center of all activity. I  baked oatmeal muffins, topping them with a little cinnamon sugar. I showered, made a coffee run (for myself and for a cardboard carrier of hot coffee), and arranged flowers. Apron tied on tight, I piled apple slices and grapes on a platter, side by side with homemade granola and containers of yogurt. I pulled out Maida Heatter's spectacular recipe for blueberry crumble and I layered blueberries, brown sugar, butter, and oats in a glass dish. I lay strips of bacon and breakfast sausage in my grill plan and poured eggs in the skillet.

At 11:15, the first guest arrived. And for the next four hours, we ate. And chatted. And drank coffee. And ate.

Sorry, there are no photos. We ate it all.

The menu:
Scrambled eggs, bacon, and Formaggio Kitchen breakfast sausage
Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
Cranberry-Almond Granola [recipe coming soon!] and yogurt
Maida Heatter's Blueberry Crumble
Fruit platter, coffee, orange juice

Brunch Part I

I'm hosting brunch tomorrow. 

There are recipes taped to my kitchen walls. There's a to do list written on the front of my fridge with a dry erase marker, organized by "day before" and "morning of." And, on the counters, there are glass containers stacked up, each with a label ("blueberry crumble topping, add butter," "brown sugar for muffins," "oatmeal, dried cranberries, almonds for granola").

What, you don't write on your fridge with a dry erase marker? Tell me I'm not the only one...

[Recap coming soon.]

Weekend

Hustling home from work and then out the door for a run, running as far as I could in 15 minutes then turning around.... Baking oatmeal raisin cookies, dried cranberries added on request, with the apron strings wrapped tightly around my waist and tied in the front.... Rolling out pie dough and looking outside at the golden-red leaves... Walking down Newbury Street with a coffee in hand.... Making dinner for E and roasting sweet potatoes with plenty of olive oil and just enough salt and pepper... Putting on my absolute tallest high heels for salsa dancing... Working my way through sets of bicep curls and tricep dips then holding the plank position... Taking an old friend and a new friend around Boston, walking past Quincy Market towards the North End, and pushing my sunglasses up as dusk falls.... and, just because I can, baking chocolate chip cookie bars.

How was your weekend?

How I Wake Up

The first blast of cold air sends me back to my apartment -- I exchange my fleece vest for a jacket and I start off again. As I run, I can't decide how warm I am. Gloves on. Gloves off. On. Off. I finally tuck them into my pockets. I slide the zipper of my jacket up and down. Up. Down. Hot. Cold. I give up.

I run towards Southie and I cross the Summer Street bridge -- The silhouettes of industrial rigs and beat up boats are dramatic against the last remnants of the night sky. I'm serious about this run. It's everything a run should be. I don't want to turn around, I want to keep running, and I would, except I do have to go to work. I barely feel the cold and, as I double back and weave towards Fan Pier, daylight suddenly arrives. The harbor is lit up.

Two hours later, I'm running for a bus, paper coffee cup in hand. My sore hip flexors are a reminder of how I started the day.