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| Property of The Entertaining House/Jessica Gordon Ryan |
Have you tasted the cherries lately? They are unbelievable! Sweet, like nature's candy. They're loaded with fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. 1 cup, without pits, has only 77 calories. Are they not the most perfect sweet, ever?
We simply cannot get enough of them around here.
The bowl of cherries in the picture above didn't last long. We've filled and emptied our bowls since. We're nearing the end of our cherry supply. Today I needed something a little sweet, and a little crunchy. I made some granola that I tossed onto some Greek yogurt along with some of the cherries. It was divine!
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| Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
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| Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House |
The granola is all made and ready for snacking. I can add dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, etc) and even a few chocolate chips...an easy, healthy snack to satisfy a sweet tooth. But we all love it best on top of yogurt, low fat ice cream and frozen yogurt!
Muddle some cherries in seltzer water, add some cherries to your yogurt, frozen milkshake or smoothie. Cherries, once pitted and halved, freeze beautifully! They're wonderful for baking in muffins and quick breads as well. Freeze some now while they are in season! And when they're all gone, don't forget to add them to your shopping list!
Granola is super easy to make. I make all sorts of variations.
This is a basic recipe that I adapted from Ina Garten.
4 cups oats (not quick cook)
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 almond meal - If you want almond slivers or slices add 1 cup
1/2 cup of wheat germ
1/2 cup of good quality honey
1/3 cup of canola oil
Mix ingredients in a large bowl using a rubber spatula so that you can keep scraping down the sides of the bowl. When all the ingredients are combined spread onto a 9x13 jelly roll or rimmed cookie sheet.
Place in a 350 degree oven and cook, stirring mixture every once in a while, for about 30 minutes until the mixture has turned a lovely golden brown. Note: the honey and coconut may cause parts to get darker, this is just the sugar caramelizing... do not toss this thinking that you've burned it!
Below is the granola while it is being made, and just prior to going into the oven.
You may want to add Greek yogurt, oats, honey and almost to the list with the cherries on it!
XOXO,
Jessica