Grand Granola... Your new favorite snack!

I LOVE granola but am very picky when it comes to its composition... I want it crunchy without feeling dry and chalky; flavorful but not sticky sweet; and, most of all, I like to have variety. A few years back, I started making my own and can't believe that I hadn't started sooner. It is quick, easy and absolutely delicious while satisfying my criteria. The best part is that you can make it with whatever you have on hand or whatever you are in the mood for.

This recipe is perfect for breakfast, as part of a trail mix, topping for cereal... the options are endless! I also like this recipe because the egg whites help to bind it together to create crunchy clusters, which makes it easier to snack on. Feel free to adjust any of the ingredients to suit your fancy. Just remember that adjusting the sugar content effects the cooking time (more sugar = less cooking time) and may need to be stirred sooner to avoid scorching. However, it is perfectly normal to have variations on color for a batch.

Seriously... Doesn't this look delicious!

Preheat oven to 300ºF
Mix together in a large bowl:
3c old fashioned rolled oats
1.5c nuts (I did a combination of almonds, pistachios, hemp, Chia seeds - all not salted)
1.5c of coconut (I only had sweetened but I would use toasted next time)
1/2c dried fruit (You will want to choose with more moisture or it will become too chewy)
Mix together.

In a small bowl:
1 egg white
1/4c olive/coconut oil
2TB of brown sugar
1/4c maple syrup
1.5tsp of vanilla
Beat very well.

Fold the wet and dry ingredients until well coated then let sit for 10 minutes. Then spread out on a jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper in an even layer. Sprinkle lightly with coarser sea salt (I actually used lava salt).
Start by baking 45 minutes, turn in oven and add another 5-10. You want it to be toasted. Let cool completely (it will get crunchy as it cools). You can also sprinkle with chocolate chips that will incorporate while it cools. If you bake them with the granola, you risk burning the morsels (Yuck!). Last time I made some, I added a little cinnamon and used pumpkin spice chips and it was pure heaven!

Stuff your face and enjoy! Makes a little more than 2 one quart Mason jars. Keep in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks (if it lasts that long!) 

Blogging for Books: The Acid Watcher Diet

The Acid Watcher Diet by Jonathan Aviv is a user friendly guide about the effects and treatment of acid reflux through diet modifications. The book starts by outlining what acid reflux is and the signs/symptoms to recognize that you have it as well as what the physical ramifications are of leaving it untreated. Aviv also discusses the different procedures that are available to confirm and diagnose it.

He then moves into the role of food in causing acid reflux and the different role of macronutrients in a balanced diet. He includes a handy chart for determining the different pHs of common foods and how they can be utilized to reduce inflammation in combination to the decisions that we make from day to day. This includes reducing particular behaviors that induce acid production, such as stress.

All of this information is followed by an easy to follow guide for a 28 day routine that is phased out into Healing and Maintenance as well as an exercise routine to support reaching a healthy weight as well as not aggravating the condition. The recipes included are easy to follow and most of the ingredients can be gathered at your average grocery store. This book is a good beginners guide or worth looking into for anyone battling acid reflux. 

Blogging for Books: "Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning"

Timothy Snyder's "Black Earth" is a haunting reminder of how fragile the balance of our society and how important it is that we remember these historical events. In a time when our country seems more divide than ever and the echo of intolerance can be felt in our daily lives, this texts provides a warning of how we can choose to avoid following in the footsteps of the Nazi movement.

The book begins by providing the historical framework for Hitler's rise to power and what his objectives were in "cleansing" the German culture while silently increasing the country's geographic footprint. He follows through the movement of the German power and how Hitler was instrumental in providing the background to the effort. Snyder then draws the parallels to the present and where our culture stands in terms of still being influenced by Hitler's teachings and the Nazi movements, including our views on intolerance and even areas of science.

This book is an important examination of the Holocaust and outlines the recipe for which Hitler was able to rise to power. There are times that this book felt repetitive or like it may have been missing additional information, but it was, overall, a solid read and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history or looking to learn more.