Power Granola

Tried an amazing recipe over the weekend for Granola. Can be eaten plain or I love to put it in my yogurt in the morning. Instead of using the cranberries I substituted it for dried cherries. This one is defiantly a keeper.

Ingredients

• 2 cups regular oats
• 1/3 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup chopped slivered almonds
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries

Preparation

Preheat oven to 300°.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.

Combine orange juice, honey, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in oil and vanilla.

Pour honey mixture over oat mixture, stirring to coat. Spread mixture in a thin layer onto a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 300° for 10 minutes; stir well. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Spoon granola into a bowl; stir in dried cranberries. Cool completely.

Note: Store completely cooled granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

White Wine Sangria

For girls' night last night I tried a new sangria recipe. Thought I would switch it up from the traditional red one. This was defiantly a hit! Even my husband loved it and he doesn't care for white wine. Perfect for a warm summer night!

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 3 oranges (sliced) or may substitute 1 cup of orange juice)
• 1 lemon (sliced)
• 1 lime (sliced)
• 1/2 liter of ginger ale or club soda (ginger ale for those with a sweeter tooth!)

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the orange,lemon and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled white wine and serve over lots of ice.

Enjoy!

Grato- Morris Plains

Over the weekend I finally got to try Grato in Morris Plains. Simply just fabulous! From the decor to the food nothing dissapointed me. For an appetizer we ordered the Crispy Shrimp. A light dish with olives, capers, tomatoes, Arugula, drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette. For dinner I order the Grilled Salmon over Tomato Risotto which again delicious, Salmon was cooked perfectly and the Risotto was heaven. Finally, for dessert a cheesecake with fresh Papaya. Haven't had such a good meal in quite some time. Grato means "grateful" in italian, and that's how you'll feel after a meal at this pleasing restaurant.

Most AMAZING nachos!

Back in November I ate at Reflections Cafe in Harrah's and ordered the most amazing nachos. I have no clue what they put in them but they are out of this world...I nicknamed them "the reason to live." Next time you are in Atlantic City definitely stop in and order some. I can promise you they will knock your socks off!