If you’re a granola lover like I am then you know that it can be a spendy item to buy on a regular basis. That’s the beauty of making your own granola…it’s super easy to whip up a batch of it and you get a lot more granola for a lot less money.  

This recipe is a great one to play with. You can use different dried fruits and nuts depending on what suits your fancy. I decided to use dried apricots and a combo of chopped pecans and sliced almonds. I didn’t have unsweetened coconut so I used the sweetened variety. I also added 1 tablespoon of flax seeds, 1/8 cup of wheat germ and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla. The granola turned out great! I like to mix it with plain yogurt drizzled with a bit of honey. Yumm!

Everyday Granola
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Yield: Makes about 5 cups

3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut*
3 tablespoons (packed) brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup assorted dried fruit

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Stir honey and oil in saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; toss. Spread on prepared sheet. Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 30-40 minutes. Place sheet on rack. Stir granola; cool. Mix in fruit. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight.

* Available at specialty foods stores and natural foods stores.

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Tags: almonds, apricot, Breakfast, cereal, dried fruit, granola, honey, old-fashioned oats, pecans, shredded coconut

Apricot jam…I love it! Not only is it great on toast but you can use it as a filling for coffee cake and scones and as a glaze for everything from pies to grilled meat (like chicken and pork). Here’s an easy-to-make recipe for Quick Apricot Jam that’s a perfect use for all those ripe summertime apricots. Enjoy!

Quick Apricot Jam
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

This quick, simple recipe comes from Becky Smith of Frog Hollow Farm in California. The jam doesn’t require canning and keeps for weeks in the fridge—if you don’t eat it all up before then. For a sweeter spread, use a bit more sugar. This recipe is easily halved. Yields 3 cups.

2 lb. ripe apricots, rinsed, quartered, pitted, and unpeeled (about 16)
1 cup plus 3 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

In a wide, shallow pan, stir together the apricots and the sugar. Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring often so the preserves don’t stick or burn. Simmer the jam until it’s thick but some chunks of fruit remain, 10 to 15 min. Stir in the lemon juice and remove the pan from the heat. Let cool, transfer to a plastic container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate.

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Tags: apricot, jam, lemon juice, sugar