Granola - Weekend Project

Master Granola Recipe Makes 1 quart

Adjust oven rack to middle position, and heat oven to 275 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal pan with cooking spray, then set aside. Mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt and Extra Ingredients --except dried fruit -- in a bowl. Bring syrup, oil, water and any Flavoring indicated below to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle over oat mixture, and stir to combine. Pour mixture onto prepared pan. Working a handful at a time, squeeze cereal to form small clumps. Bake for 30 minutes. Stir in dried fruit. Continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let cool. (Granola can be stored in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.) For nutrition information on each granola variation, go to usaweekend.com.

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 2 Tbs. dark brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup Extra Ingredients (see complete list below)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 Tbs. flavorless oil, such as vegetable or canola
• 1 Tb. water
• Flavoring (see below)

Classic Granola
Extra Ingredients: 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/3 cup dark or golden raisins
Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
You can replace the 1/4 cup of maple syrup with 2 Tbs. each of maple syrup and molasses.

Crunchy Granola
Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup slivered almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, 2 Tbs. sesame seeds, 6 Tbs. currants
Flavoring: none

Granola with Tropical Flavoring
Add the coconut along with the cashews and banana chips.
Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted cashews, 1/4 cup chopped banana chips, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple
Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Granola with Cherries and Almonds
Extra Ingredients: 1/3 cup sliced almonds, 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/3 cup dried cherries
Flavoring: 3/4 tsp. almond extract

Trail Mix Granola
Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted peanuts, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/4 cup dark or golden raisins, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips*
Flavoring: none
*Stir chips into the granola only after it has completely cooled.

Orange-Berry Granola with Pecans
Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped pecans,1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup dried blueberries
Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
Pear Granola with Hazelnuts and Vanilla
Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts, 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries, 1/4 cup chopped dried pears
Flavoring: 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Orange-Flavored Granola with Pistachios, Mangos and Dates
Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped roasted pistachios, 1/4 cup chopped dates, 1/4 cup chopped dried mangos

Flavoring
1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest and 1/4 tsp. allspice

Enjoy!
J.Jones

Source found here

Bread Pudding Formula

2-2-1-1 Bread Pudding Formula

Custard:
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
Bread (depending on size of cooking vessel) cut or torn into chunks

Optional Flavoring:
Vanilla, Brandy, Bourbon, Espresso
Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom

Optional Textures:
Raisins, diced apples, pineapple,
Chopped Nuts such as Walnut, pecan, walnut, pistachio

1. Fill cooking vessel (a good option is an 11x7x2 glass Pyrex) with Bread. Sprinkle on the Optional Textures and toss together.
2. Make the custard: mix Eggs, Milk and sugar and Optional Flavorings together, then poor over the Bread. Press down on the bread so to soak up the custard. Let rest while your oven heats up to 350 degrees.
3. Cook for 50-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

RUM SAUCE
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. Rum or Bourbon or Vanilla

Mix sugar and rum together in sauce pan. Cook until slightly reduced. Serve warm over bread pudding.