December 4th 2009 ….. My Red Book is Filling up! Holiday Nuts, Fruit & Cocoa!
Avoid Fruit & Nuts, You are what you eat!~ Jim Davis
I guess I’m in trouble. I love fruit & nuts! I am a little nutty when it comes to holiday granola. As a child growing up my mother would begin mixing up batches of her homemade granola the first weeks of December. It is a tradition I have continued in my own holiday kitchen! Not only is the granola scrumptious, it makes a wonderful homemade gift! Friends and family look forward to receiving a jar each year! I’ve added a little fun to this years Granola making fest, my partner Ed’s Holiday Hot Chocolate! Read on and see how his tradition is the perfect addition to my Holiday Kitchen!
Mom’s Granola
- 2 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Nuts
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1/3 cup Margarine melted
- 1/4 cup Wheat Germ
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup raisins
In a large mixing bowl mix until well blended all ingredients except raisins. Bake at 350 on a greased cookie sheet, 20-25 minutes. Use a spatula to turn granola once or twice during the baking. Remove from oven, place back in large mixing bowl and add raisins. Cool and fill decorative jars.
This recipe can take on your own personality, use various different nuts, consider dates or dried cranberries instead of raisins. When the granola is completely cooled add M&M’s, chocolate chips or peanut butter chips for a really festive batch! I fill mason jars with the granola then tie off the middle with a festive ribbon. Another option is fill clear cellophane bags and tie the tops off with ribbon.
Now while the Granola is doing its baking, I’ve added a little of Ed’s holiday tradition to my kitchen. Ed used to make this wonderful Hot Chocolate for kids during the holiday season. I belly laugh when he tells the story of how he would labor over the stove working hard to make the perfect cup of Hot Chocolate for the twins, only to hear in the end “Daddy I like Swiss Miss better!” Kids! Well, I’m here to say Swiss Miss doesn’t hold a candle to Ed’s Cocoa!
So while your Granola is baking treat yourself to some Hot Chocolate, and maybe work on your holiday card list!
Ed’s Holiday Hot Chocolate
- 2-3 ounces of your favorite milk chocolate- Ed’s kids liked Dove
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- 4 ounces milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla
- Pinch of cinnamon or stick
- Small handful of mini-marshmallows or whipped cream
Pour milk and cream in saucepan over low to medium low heat (depends how impatient kids are). Pour in chocolate stirring constantly until melted well. Be careful not to scald the milk. Add & Stir in vanilla
Pour into mug adding mini-marshmallows or whipped cream and cinnamon pinch or stick. Delicious for all!!
Ed’s advice………”Keep the Swiss Miss on hand though for the youngest ones!!”
My Red Book of Holiday Traditions is filling up………As I think about this book being handed down to my children, I wonder….. will my grandchildren be Ed Hot Chocolate fans or Swiss Miss?…………..For the record, my kids love Ed’s!
