Greeks and granola

So today I emailed my lovely sister Megan the recipe for granola that I have been making and am totally hooked on, and she suggested that I post the recipe to my blog. Genius! I replied that I had never thought about posting things non-baby related but I think maybe I should share aspects of my life that don't directly involve children. After all, I think there is a lot more to me than just being an over-worked mom. So I was thinking that I will start blogging about food fetishes that I am currently entangled in. And here is my current food fetish, granola (nope, its not just for hippies anymore!).

If you have never experienced homemade granola, be warned, you will never go back to boxed granola once you have made your own! The difference in taste is amazing! And, I haven't done the exact math but I imagine a big batch of granola costs about $7 to make and has at least 15 servings in it, making it much cheaper than what you buy at the store. Currently I am eating my granola with some Greek yogurt and fresh strawberries- delish! Here is the recipe I use for my granola, adapted from Nigella Lawson's granola recipe:

Granola:

5 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking oats)

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dried dates

2 cups pecans (or almonds, or a mixture if you are feeling a bit wild)

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup brown rice syrup

1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup if you want to make it vegan)

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 300F.

In large bowl combine all dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix well.

Spread the granola over two baking sheets. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, being sure to stir granola every ten minutes and rotate the pans. When it is ready, remove from the oven and stir well to prevent it from cooling into one big hard sheet. Place in an airtight bag and it will keep in the fridge indefinitely, though I don't know one could refrain from eating all of it long enough for it to spoil!

One note on Greek yogurt, it is so expensive! I have no clue what makes it so much more expensive than regular yogurt. From what I can tell the only difference in Greek yogurt is that it is strained more than regular yogurt so it ends up thicker. I just ordered a yogurt maker so if I have any luck making my own Greek yogurt I will lend those tips via the blog.

Go ahead and find that inner hippie and make some granola this weekend, just be sure to shower!

What did the Easter Bunny ever do to you??

Pictures are really worth a thousand words.  Here are a few to convey how the twins feel about Easter bunnies.

Lizzie's first experience with "the bunny"

Conner expressing disdain for "the bunny"

Obviously still harboring harsh feelings towards "the bunny" a year later

Celebrity look-alike

I am like most mothers in that I think my two babies are the cutest things on earth.  But, there are times when Lizzie's cuteness just doesn't translate well into a picture.  Perhaps its her chubby little cheeks or the gallons of drool that seem to constantly come out of her mouth, but many pictures of her tend to bear resemblance to a famous celebrity.

Starting 'em young

Conner and Lizzie received a doctor's kit for their birthday and they have taken quite a liking to it.  Does this indicate the first signs of budding doctors on our hands?  Probably not, my guess is that the pieces are just the right size to put into a mouth making them instant favorites.  In fact, two particular items from the kit have become the catalysts to many a fights in our house. They may look like a wooden thermometer and syringe but when inserted into the mouth, they become a toy worth fighting over!  

Irish eyes are smiling

Happy St. Patrick's Day from my little leprachauns!

Conner and Elizabeth are growing more each day and really learning how to get into trouble. Each is developing quite a personality. Lizzie is fun-loving, loves attention (and will yell at you to get your attention) and bosses her brother around when he is doing something she doesn't approve of. Conner is silly, clumsy, and easily frustrated (i.e., throws lots of tantrums). Conner gets away with his tantrums by giving us the biggest smile each morning when he wakes up. We still haven't mastered walking yet- each will take a few steps but when you can get around quickly and efficiently with crawling, what's the point of walking? We can't wait for spring to officially arrive (and stay) so that we can get outside and play!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday Conner and Elizabeth! What a year it has been!

Conner Jay, 2/9/08

Conner Jay, 2/9/09

Elizabeth Sara, 2/9/08

Elizabeth Sara, 2/9/09

And off they go

Conner taking his turn with the alligator push toy

Wow, the first day of February! When I think about this time last year all I remember is backaches, 8 bathroom trips a night, and the never ending World Cup soccer matches occurring in my abdomen. I am in a much better place this year as February begins- there still are some backaches from lugging around two 22 lb babies but I can see my toes so I can't complain. We've got only a few more days until the twins turn one (Feb. 9th)! Next weekend we will have a birthday party for them at our house and then in a few more weeks its up to Connecticut for birthday party number 2. Each day I look at them and there will be something that catches my eye and makes me realize how grown up they really are becoming (from Conner in his Chuck Taylors to Lizzie sitting on the staircase). Its been a great year and I am really loving the stage we are in right now. Conner and Lizzie have started speaking to each other in some sort of language only the two of them are fluent in and I can only wonder what they are saying.

Lizzie in her new chair

Conner in his Chuck Taylors