Pistachio Granola

I love this granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. I am a huge pistachio fan and got the idea to make this after I had an amazing pistachio granola yogurt parfait one morning following a crazy night in Vegas.

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 2 cups regular oats
• 2/3 cup chopped pistachios
• 2/3 cup nutlike cereal nuggets (such as Grape-Nuts, Kashi 'Go Lean Crunch')
• 2/3 cup dried sweet cherries (or cranberries)
• 1/2 cup sunflower seed kernels
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• Combine sugar and cider in a large nonstick skillet; cook over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Stir in oats and remaining ingredients; cook 5 minutes or until granola is lightly browned, stirring frequently. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to a week.

Rather than combining in a skillet, I combine all ingredients and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350. Also, I'm sure honey could be substituted for the sugar, although I haven't yet tried it.

Fruit Dips

Two of my FAVORITES!

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

1 package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together and serve room temperature. Best with apples and celery.


Melon Fruit Dip

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 small container marshmallow cream
a pinch of citrus juice

Mix together and eat with grapes and/or melons. Who am I kidding? I eat this with anything.

Gooey Microwave Caramel Corn

• 2 C brown sugar
• 1 C Karo syrup
• 1 cube butter
• 1 can sweet and condensed milk

- mix sugars, karo syrup and butter in a saucepan, bring to a boil

- sitr in milk, stirring constantly

- cook to soft ball stage

- pour over 10 - 12 quarts of popped popcorn

Tres Bien Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla (real vanilla)
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 package chocolate chips (my favorite is Hershey Mini Kisses milk chocolate chips)

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees

- Mix shortening, butter, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla

- Blend in remaining ingredients

- (add 1/2 cup more flour for a softer cookie - I do this)

- Bake 10 minutes

(Thanks to my sis Sally for this great recipe)