Granola Munch Mix

What says “Merry Christmas, I love you,” more than a quart full of granola? Well, not much I tell ya, not much. Money says, “I love you.” But granola says, “I love you and want to fill your tummy.” Now, if I could figure out how to get someone to give me granola AND money, I’d be all set.

Let’s be honest here for a minute. If you would like someone to give you a gift that requires dusting, please raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone? Well, then how can YOU in turn go out and buy someone a little doodad and call it quits? Unless that doodad also comes with a lifetime supply of dusting services, I probably don’t want it. Amen and amen.

BUT give someone granola, and there is no dusting required. You eat it. And if it hangs around long enough to need dusting, well then…I’m not sure what to tell ya. Seek professional counseling because that’s beyond the scope of SMC.

As we truck on through Cooking Through Stacy’s Stash, we come to this little gem. I picked this up on a trip that Barry and I took. I’m always picking up cookbooks as souvenirs. They require no dusting – okay, so maybe they do. But I don’t usually dust books because I look at them so often they don’t gather dust…or maybe I just look at life through dust-less goggles.

Anyway, it’s full of gifts you can give in a jar. Just like the free jar eBook from Heavenly Homemakers. I love jars – that’s the understatement of the century.

I chose this recipe for Santa’s Granola Munch Mix. Since we don’t do Santa, I just left the Santa name off this recipe. But you’re welcome to add it back if you like.

And really, who wants to feed granola to a fictional character? I don’t. This stuff is MINE. Back off, Santa. Get on your reindeer and move along. All you people out there leaving cookies for Santa: news flash…I KNOW YOU’RE EATING THEM. Busted.

This recipe called for some cereal and other various things I didn’t have…and vegetable oil and brown sugar. Two things I don’t keep. So, I changed up the ingredients a bit to make things more whole-foods friendly…I also messed with the ingredient amounts too – because I like high flavor. Yeah, buddy.

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkay. So remember I just mentioned “more whole-foods friendly?” Well, I threw it out the window with these puppies. I found them at our local Amish store, and really – they spoke to me. They said “Merry Christmas, get me in the buggy!” Who am I to say no to festive chips like these? I don’t know what’s in these – and I really don’t want to know since I already ate them. *Burp* But anyway, you can use whatever white chips you like…or you can make some. My friend Adrienne has a great recipe for homemade white chocolate chips.

You’ll make a nice liquid coating for this mix consisting of maple syrup, honey, coconut oil, peanut butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. And dude, I’m getting really low on maple syrup. I need a sale. Like, yesterday. Holler if you see one. Thanks, this has been a public service announcement.

This only bakes for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. It will start to get really brown, so watch it carefully. Did you know burning granola will set off the smoke detector?

When it’s done, cool it completely before you add the rest of the stuff. Otherwise the chocolate will melt. And while melted chocolate is normally a happy thing, you want your chips to stay nice and whole in this masterpiece so that it’s a burst of chocolate happiness in your mouth with each chip.

I added the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to this mix. Nothing says Christmas like cranberries…and granola. You could use raisins if cranberries aren’t your thang. You can also add nuts or any other various things you have laying around – within reason. Don’t go nutso here.

You can package this in a nice mason jar for a gift. It will fill one quart jar and leave about 1 cup for you to eat yourself. And THAT’S my kind of gift.