Top 13 of 2013

Can you believe this year is about to end?  This has been the most busy, crazy, changing, adventure filled, goal completing, traveled year yet.  As we said on our Christmas card, this year we:

Remodeled, Graduated, Sold, Packed, Moved, 

Went to Idaho, Went to Montana, Went to Wyoming, 

Went to Oregon, Went to Washington, Packed Again, 

Moved Again, Got Hired.....we are still unpacking.

We look forward to any adventures that 2014 will bring!

It's a miracle that in all this chaos I was able to do a few blog posts.  With that I bring you the top 13 of 2013!

13.  Minted + a Giveaway

Everyone loves a giveaway.  It was a pleasure working with Minted on this one.

12.  Tasty Recipes from Around the Web

I'm happy this one made the list because I love sharing.  Plus it featured a recipe from a local blogger - A Girl and her Fork.

11.  Spooky {and easy} Halloween Treat - Mummy Dogs!

This one makes me giggle a bit, but I guess everyone is in for a simple, tasty and cute recipe.

10.  IRONMAN Lake Tahoe 2013:  Not all winners finish

This is my personal favorite post of the year.  I still cannot explain how proud I am of my mom.  I'm more proud of her in this moment than in any other race.  I hope she comes back next year. (She is on the mend!)

9.  Orange Snickerdoodles....50/50 Cookies

A post from early on in the year before all the crazy moving madness started.  This is also one of my first posts using my big girl camera.  Oh what a difference (thanks honey).

8.  DIY Natural Hand Soap

I'm glad everyone liked this crafty post because I have some more crafty things coming for 2014!

7.  Cycling, doping and jackassery:  Lance Confesses

Apparently when I really open my mouth sometimes people like to listen!  I'm surprised this one is on the list, but lots of people had opinions about old Lance.  I stick by mine.

6.  Everyday Granola

We still love this granola and it still disappears quickly upon being made.  This is a great recipe if I don't say so myself.

5.  Crystal Cove {Newport Beach, CA}
This one was also a surprise to me.  I'm glad you liked it because we sure did.  Such a beautiful and quaint place.

4.  Strawberries, Margaritas and Mom's
Wow, my mom is doing good this year!  Two posts and both well read.  Can't say I'm surprised. This was a fun day and that strawberry margarita tart was tasty!

3.  Kitchen Re-Model Phase 2 - Bye Bye Betty Draper!
Well, all of our hard work paid off in more ways than one.  We challenged ourselves, completed the goal and you liked it too, thanks!

2.  Chicken Pot Pie ♥ The Heart Healthy Way ♥
Oh my yummy.  I need to make this again STAT.

1.  Dinner Makeover {Cheeseburger, Fries + Shake}
Ahh, my first whole meal post.  I am most thrilled with that banana shake.  So delicious!

Happy New Year friends!  Best wishes to you and yours!
♥ TCW

Everyday Granola

Vanilla Granola. That is not what this is. Sort of.  Just keep that in mind OK?

I think store bought granola is kind of a rip-off. The box should be cereal sized but it isn't.  You eat it twice and behold!

Your tiny box of granola is empty.

Thankfully, It turns out granola is easy to make!

Not only is it easy to make but munchkin's like it too. The Munchkin tells us he wants "o-gurt and banilla". This translates to "yogurt and granola".  But because his favorite yogurt is vanilla, we usually end up in a who's on first discussion.

(Banilla Vanilla is not pictured here).  It took us a bit, but now we know o-gurt and banilla means vanilla yogurt with granola.  We are now practicing how to say "granola".

I like to call this Everyday Granola, because once you make it, you're going to eat it everyday until it's gone. Then repeat.

This banilla granola is good with yogurt, but also on oatmeal, with milk, or just plain!

This granola recipe was inspired by this.

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients:
3 cups thick-cut rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. wheat germ
1 tbsp. ground flax

Wet ingredients:
3 heaping tbsp. raw honey
3 heaping tbsp. brown sugar
3 heaping tbsp. coconut oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins:
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins

How to:

Pre-heat oven to 300. 

Add dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Melt together the wet ingredients using a microwave or a pot (we don't have a microwave so I do it on the stove), mix well.

Once melted, pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and mix well.

Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. 

Spread granola mixture in a layer over the entire sheet. 

Bake for 15 minutes, then stir/flip with a spatula. 

Return to the oven and bake 15 to 20 minutes more until light golden. 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool. 

Stir while cooling based on how chunky you like your granola - if you like bigger chunks, don't stir it a lot (just remember you've got to transfer it to a container).

I store mine in the jar shown above, I believe it is airtight, but we eat the granola so fast it probably doesn't matter!

Makes about 5 cups.

If you like this granola recipe you might like this one too.

Enjoy your o-gurt and banilla!

Pumpkin Granola with Candied Pepitas

I know, I know.  Thanksgiving is over.  Christmas came before Thanksgiving even got here.  But now that the turkey has passed us, fall seems to be gone too.

So why am I making pumpkin granola now?  Well, because it's good.

And also, I actually did make this before Thanksgiving.  But my life can sometimes be crazy-town.
I'm not a professional blogger, just a lady with a real life and a real job and a blog.

So sometimes I'm a little late.  But that's OK, because this Pumpkin Granola with Candied Pepitas is still good.  And you can feel free to eat it anytime of year.  I like it with yogurt, or in oatmeal, or just plain.

By the way, the light wasn't changing at all when I did these photos...same spot, same camera, same time.

This recipe was inspired by this and this.

Ingredients:

Candied Pepitas
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds*)

Granola
Dry Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (I use salted)
1/2 cup flake coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons wheat germ
2 tablespoons flax (ground**)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Wet Ingredients:
3 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons honey
Mix-ins:
1/4 cup chopped dried mango (I got mine at Trader Joe's)
1/4 cup raisins
The candied pepitas that you made above

How to:

Start with candy-ing your pepitas.  Mix together all of the dry spices in a small bowl and set aside.  Using a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter.  Add pepitas and all of the spice mix.  Stir constantly, toasting the pepitas until they turn golden brown.  Add honey and brown sugar and continue to cook while stirring for another couple of minutes.  Transfer the seeds to a large sheet tray.  Let them cool for about 10 minutes, then break them up with a spatula to avoid sticking.  Set aside.

While your candied pepitas are cooling, start the granola.  Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In a small sauce pan at low-medium heat, add the wet ingredients and heat until liquefied.  Once liquefied, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread the mixture evenly onto an oiled baking pan (I just give mine a quick spray of canola oil) and bake at 300 for 15 minutes, stir with a spatula and bake for another 15 minutes until golden.  Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan.  Add mix-ins when baking is done.  If you want larger chunks, stir/break-up after the granola has cooled, if you want a more loose granola, stir a few times while cooling.

*I bought my pepitas at our local co-op.  They looked like this...

Gourmet Sleuth

Mine had a smoky flavor.  I'm certain I bought plain ones, so I'm not sure if this is how they typically taste or not.  If anyone has any comments regarding how pepitas should taste, please share!

**Much to the love of The Cyclist, I use his coffee grinder to grind my flax seeds.  Just dump some in the grinder and pulse until you have a powdery substance.  Watch out because they puff up upon grinding.  Make sure you clean out the grinder when you're done so your husband doesn't have flax flavored coffee.

I shared this recipe on the following sites:

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Mom's
My Sweet and Savory
hey what's for dinner Mom?