cherry cinnamon granola
I’m incredibly behind on sharing recipes here - I guess that’s what seasons of life are like. Some are so busy that the thought of sitting to write, to create a post, feels downright exhausting.
Part of the reason for the exhaustion and the feeling of being constantly busy, having a perennial to-do list, is a tendency to overbook the social calendar: hosting, traveling, attending events. Sometimes it feels like I exist in an all-or-nothing scenario: weekends spent on the couch, under a blanket, watching a Nancy Meyers film for the umpteenth time, or three weeks straight of plans every night.
The reality is that my favorite of all are evenings that are a perfect blend of the two: spent hosting. There’s something magical about welcoming your favorite people to your space, something extra special about sliding something toward them with the shared knowledge that the love you share is so great you could think of no better expression than creating for them,
Lately my affection for hosting has grown exponentially - whether that’s a function of getting older or of getting intimately acquainted with deep loss and the inability to host those who are gone, I’m not sure. It could be a combination of both. But as I get older, it’s with a deeper understanding of how wonderful it is to make your home feel welcoming for those you love.
Lately, a new favorite way to do so is with a quick batch of homemade granola waiting to welcome guests when they arrive. And I know what you’re thinking: granola? Like we can buy? Why would anyone take the time to make it?
Let me expound on its pros: incredibly easy to make. Beyond delicious. Makes your entire home smell wonderful.
Feel free to riff, play, expand upon the recipe below. Isn’t that the best part of cooking, after all? The chance to be creative, have fun with it, and develop your own favorites?
I’ll suggest, however, that you keep the dried cherries, the cinnamon kiss, the sprinkle of salt. It turns into a sweet-salty combination that is positively irresistible, and one that says to guests when they wake up the first morning to find it set out with yogurt and a spoon: Welcome. I’m so very glad you’re here.
CHERRY CINNAMON GRANOLA
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tbl sea salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup EVOO
1 cup dried cherries
1 tbl cinnamon
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Combine sugar, syrup and olive oil in saucepan and heat gently until sugar dissolves.
Let cool slightly.
Combine sugar mixture with dried ingredients, folding gently until all coated. Sprinkle with salt and cinnamon and fold a few more times.
Spread evenly across baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper.
Bake 30-45 minutes, stirring throughout to ensure the granola cooks evenly and there are no dense, sticky clumps.
Allow to cool and enjoy!
