Honey Vanilla Granola

If you remember a couple of weeks ago I made some granola for my Daddy, I have made him some more for Christmas.  This is the first recipe I have made.   Stay tuned because there will be more. Granola is easy to make and suppose to be good for you.

This recipe I think he will like because it has dried blueberries in it.  He really likes blueberries. The recipe called for yogurt covered raisins but I didn't have any and I am not sure he would like those, so I left them out. But you can include them if you like.

The recipe calls for 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted.  The oil is solid so it was hard to make sure how much you have until you melt it.  Just stick it in the microwave for about 20 seconds and it will melt.  I let it sit and cool a little bit before I add it to the rest.

Here it melted.  There is just a little bit more than 1/4 cup.  Coconut oil is suppose to be a really good oil for you.

Put two egg whites at room temp into a bowl.

Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed.  I used light brown because that is what I keep.  Use whichever you have. I whisked the eggs whites and sugar a little so there would not be lumps in the sugar.

I added the oil.

1/4 cup honey.  If you put it in the measuring cup that is still a little warm it will just pour right out without sticking to the side.

1 Tablespoon vanilla

Whisk it all together really well.

Add 3 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats.

Start whisking/stirring the mixture.

It is mixed really well, and all of the oats are coated.

Turn out onto a parchment lined rimed cookie sheet.  Spread it out well.

It is spread out really well.  Place in a preheated 325 oven.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Turn the pan after 10 minutes.

While it is baking, measure out 1/2 cup white chocolate chips and 1/3 cup dried blueberries.  Measure out 1/2 cup yogurt covered raisins if you are going to use them.

After 20 minutes take it out of the oven.

Right away sprinkle with the white chocolate chips.  You want to add them while it is still hot so that they will melt.

All sprinkled on top.

Then start turning it to spread the melted chocolate around.  Use the wooden spoon to help break up the larger pieces.

It is all mixed well. Let it cool completely.

When it is cool add the 1/3 cup dried blueberries.

Sprinkled all throughout.

I stored this in a zip lock bag, but you can use any kind of container as long as it is air tight.

Honey Vanilla Granola Recipe

2 large egg whites, at room temp
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup yogurt covered raisins
1/3 cup dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 325.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Turn pan after 10 minutes.

Beef Enchilada Mac and Cheese

Do you ever set out some ground beef to thaw for dinner but not really know what you are going to do with it?  That is what happened to me the night I made this recipe.  I didn't want to make the same ole same ole.  So you know where I headed, to Pinterest.  I found this recipe I had saved into my food to make file.  Most importantly I had everything in the pantry to make this.  It was good but there are a few things I would do differently next time.  I will share those things with you.

First thing I would use hot enchilada sauce instead of the mild.

I added the onion.  It wasn't in the recipe but everything is better with a little onion in it.

Brown the ground beef and onion.

Cook the box of medium shells pasta.

To save on the dirty dished I used the pan I cooked the pasta in to make the sauce.  Add the 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce and 2 cups heavy cream

Add 1 teaspoon ground cumin

I added 1 teaspoon chili powder.  I would also add maybe a 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper too.

Whisk this sauce well.

Heat until mixture bubbles.  Reduce heat.

Add 2 cups colby jack cheese

Then add the ground beef mixture.

Mix well.

Add the cooked pasta.

Mix well.

We have these bowl-plates that I decided would be good for this dish.  I also fancied it up a little.  On the white plate I added some paprika to the rim.

On the red I used some parsley.

Here they are filled.

Sometimes it is nice to dress up your plates even if it is just an ordinary night with simple food.

Beef Enchilada Mac and Cheese Recipe

1 lb medium shells, cooked and drained
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups colby jack cheese, shredded
1 can 10 ox red enchilada sauce
1 lb ground beef cooked and drained
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt

I added 1 teaspoon chili powder and chopped onion.  It needed a little something to give it a kick.  Kids would probably love this because it isn't spicy.  Adults would want a little more spice.

Individual Cheese Balls

Kraft calls these Holiday Cheese Truffles but I didn't want people to think they were chocolates or been rutted out by a pig so I changed the name.  If you have time these are a great replacement to the usual cheese ball.  You can use the same recipe you use for your cheese ball just roll them into smaller balls.

I started with 2 bricks of cream cheese and two blocks of cheese.  You can use the same kind of cheese but I like to mix them.  Also I like bell peppers in mine but if you don't don't put them in.  Some people like pineapple in theirs.  Make the cheese ball anyway you and your family like it.  I am just sharing my way.

I used the food processor to grate the cheese.  If you used pregrated cheese in the bags it doesn't mix well sometimes so it is better to grate the cheese yourself.

After the cheese is all grated I moved it to another bowl and then put the two bricks of cream cheese in the food processor.

I forgot to show this on the first picture but I like to use some of my Archie's steak sauce in the cheese ball.  I don't measure but it is between 1 teaspoon and 1 Tablespoon.

I added the red and green peppers.

Pulse to mix a little bit.

I added the cheese a little bit at a time until it was all mixed.  It makes for a full processor.

Here it is all mixed.  I put it in the fridge for a little bit to firm it up a little before rolling into balls.

While you are waiting for the cheese to get ready, get the things ready to roll the balls.
I baked the bacon.  I have decided I really like to bake the bacon instead of frying.  Place on a foil lined cookie sheet.  Place in a cold oven.  Turn oven to 375 and bake for 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the bacon.

Here are the four topping to roll the cheese balls in, bacon, chopped pecans, paprika, and parsley flakes.

Here are all the little cheese balls.  I used my small cookie scoop to scoop them out.  It actually worked pretty well.  I put them back in the fridge so they are a little more firm before rolling.

Just drop them in the pecans and roll around.

Here are some of the bacon and parsley rolled balls.

For the paprika ones I just sprinkled a little on them.

Here is my tray for the party.  I have a new cake plate and I placed that in the middle of another plate.  Use some pretty fancy toothpicks in the cheese balls and spread the crackers out below.  You are ready for your guest.


Individual Cheese Balls Recipe

2 1 lb bricks of cheese
2 8 oz bricks of cream cheese
steak sauce
chopped peppers
things to roll them in, pecans, parsley, bacon, paprika