Recipe share & bday recap

I have a slight obsession with granola.  I've went through a few recipes over the years and while most were tasty, none were absolutely perfect.  Until now.  I found a great base recipe thanks to Weelicious and tweaked it to my liking. 



I somewhat followed the recipe and also threw in some maple syrup, wheat germ, Craisins, extra coconut and omitted the chocolate chips.  Delish.  I have pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and peanut butter on the radar for the next batch.  I threw it all on a baking sheet and stirred it a few times since I was making actual granola and not granola bars.

I'm in a baking mood thanks to this crisp weather, plenty of time, and a toddler who loves being my right hand (wo)man in the kitchen.   Kris gave this his seal of approval, Parker asked me for more, and she even shared with the dog who gobbled it right up.  So you know it's gotta be good :)

Granola Bars--Weelicious

Ingredients

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup chocolate chips*
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
2. 2. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl.
3. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
4. 4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir to combine.
5. 5. Place granola mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet and shape into a rectangle, about 13 x 9 x 1 inch thick.
6. 6. Bake for 40 minutes.
7. 7. Allow to cool completely then cut into 3 x 1 inch bars.**
8. * You can substitute raisins or other dried fruit for the chocolate chips.
9. ** Individually wrapped, the bars will remain fresh for several weeks.

And finally, Parker's 2nd birthday festivities in no particular order.  

Stace of Cakes. Perfect compliment to the farm party.

Kris loves feeding ducks.  Seriously loves it.

Upland Hills farm.  Even though her facial expression says otherwise, this is Parker's heaven on Earth.

Hee haw!

I opted out of the hayride up to the pumpkin patch so I lived this moment through pictures.  I went on it once during my pregnancy and the bumpy ride practically popped Teagan right out.  Teagan didn't like it inside the womb so chances were she'd feel the same outside the womb.

The big sister felt otherwise.

All girls need heels.

Thank you, Coldstone, for this delicious breakfast.  

 

That's right, cake for breakfast.

Someone loved her cat all the way to the zoo.

The most random zoo of all times in Frankenmuth.  But I assure you, if you go to a "real" zoo you will never get so close to bears, lions and tigers. You're like a foot away close.  I hope these zookeepers know what they are doing with their fences.

70 degrees, sunny, and checking out ostriches.  Teagan approves.

All in all a pretty succesful second birthday celebration. That day two years ago will forever be etched in my mind.  Hard to believe that a once helpless, dependent on us for everything newborn turned into a strong willed, independent, mind of her own toddler.