Chocolate chip granola!

When it comes to the nutrition of my little one, I try to be healthy whenever I can and to the max!

In that mind-status, if I can make something myself, instead of buying at the store (cake, candy, bread, etc.), I go for it. Our pediatrician agrees, as well! 

The cereal you find at the super market are full of sugar and so many artificial "icky" stuff. I searched for a good, healthy and tasty recipe and luckily I stumbled upon a recipe from Michelle of Brown Eyed Baker, which I use as a base and alter, depending on our cravings!

Chocolate Chip Granola

70gr maple syrup
70gr brown sugar
20gr white sugar
3 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
500gr oats
300gr chocolate chips
80 + 20gr olive oil

* Preheat the oven to 165oC.
* In a bowl mix maple syrup, sugars, vanilla and salt.
* Add 80gr olive oil and whisk until combined.
* Add the oats and the choc chips and stir with a spatula to coat, until the oats are moist.
* If needed, add the remaining olive oil.
* Prepare a pan with parchment paper and empty the oats in it.
* Press very firmly to compact (I use the bottom of a very small metallic coffee pot).
* Bake for 45 min.
* Once ready, elt it cool completely and then break it to pieces.

The taste is so good! We have it with milk, yogurt, but I personally prefer eating it as is, like candy!

As I said, this is my base.
I can add whatever we wish and the result is still amazing!

For example:
This is Chocolate Chip Cranberry Sprinkles granola (my little one loves sprinkles!).

 By the way this is how compact it needs to be, so that you can break it to pieces that hold their shape.

In this case, the dried cranberries add a nice acidic touch to the sweetness of the recipe.

Oh, yes... One day I made it, using white chocolate chips instead of dark ones... Well, I have no words! The best EVER!!!!

Enjoy!

Louise

Pomegranate jam!

My mother-in-law gave a lot of pomegranates! Like 12 fruits!

We ate a couple fresh... Ioanna especially loves these little ruby seeds!

I still had a lot left, so what do I always do? I make jam!

Thankfully I have a Kenwood Breadmaker, which also makes jam.

I used fruit and sugar in equal quantities, a little lemon juice and a tbsp butter. Pressed the button and after 1 1/2 hours it is ready!

 It is very tasty and sweet, but not in a heavy sugary way.



I am already thinking of a semi sweet tart filled with this lovely jam, drizzled with cream cheese..

Enjoy!


** Note: If you want to make this jam in a pot, you can you these ingredients. Put them in a pot, bring to a boil and then lower the temp. You need to be near the pot, stirring constantly, because it can stick to the bottom and rise over the top of the pot! It is a more difficult process... Try it at your own risk and BE CAREFUL not to burn yourself!!!!


Louise.

Playing with Barbie dolls !!! - 04

Well, it was only natural that I would make a doll house .....

I took an old used IKEA Billy bookcase and simply added furniture and shelves.

The kitchen is the bottom of a detergent box, covered with plain white paper and hand drawn by me. For the shelf I used white cardboard paper and defined the edges with a black marker.

 Snow White is baking!

 The beds are made from shoe box lids. I also made the matresses and the bed linen.

 I made the fire place myself!

I still want to add things, i.e. wallpapers, windows, a balcony, more shelves, etc., but you get the idea!

Ioanna loves it! (I love it too, I have a thing for miniatures and doll houses!)

Louise!