Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Granola

These days I've been making and eating a lot of granola. Yogurt is plentiful this time of year and mixed with homemade granola it makes a great summer breakfast or mid-day snack. We are sometimes able to find Musli (German granola) here but it is very pricey and somewhere between baby #2 and baby #3 we were no longer able to afford such luxuries. I'm only half kidding.

Anyway, after digging around on the internet and using my imagination (which I happen to have in large quantity) I came up with a simple way to make granola. It's way cheaper and it tastes so much better. (No, really, it does!) It's much better for you than the processed things found on the shelf and it cooks up in about 15 minutes. You'll want to have all the ingredients set up before you start because you have to almost constantly stir it. But you can always take the pan off the burner when you need to and pick up later where you left off. Ask me how I know this.

First, here's what you need: (all measurements are approx. Ingredients can be omited and/or substituted as desired)

  • about 2 TBS sunflower or olive oil
  • 3 cups rolled oats (doesn't have to be quick cooking)
  • 1/2 cup millet
  • 1/4 cup hulled sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, pumpkin seeds or other nuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins and/or other dried fruit, chopped
  • 1/2 -1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • dash of salt
  • approx 3 TBSP honey

Directions:

In a medium size skillet on high heat the oil. Add the oats and millet and heat throughout stirring constantly for about 3-5 minutes. Add the nuts, seeds and fruit and stir for another minute or so. Take off the heat and and sprinkle in vanilla, cinnamon, salt and honey. Stir to blend. Empty contents of skillet into a 9x13 baking pan and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Break apart and store in an airtight container in cool, dry place.

And voila, there you have it! If you're used to the storebought brands then maybe it'll be a little different. I haven't had American granola in years so I've forgotten what it tastes like. It's probably a bit sweeter than this one but, you can always add more honey or a little brown sugar.

Please let me know if you make this and how it turns out. Also any ides for things to add would be appreciated!

Monday, August 24, 2009

...And now we continue with our regular programing

The blog break, unintentional as it was, is now over, I'm happy to say. I feel good, as I get back to writing about the happenings in Mongolia and the happy little goings on in our household. I still don't know if I will be able to blog as much as I would like to but, I've decided that blogging is something that I want to work into the upper part of my list of priorities. If my little break has taught me anything it's that I need to make time for reflective writing. Not that I'm great at it, but it helps me to process things when I can't (or don't feel like) talk to someone about it face to face.

The summer has been busy mostly because I have been teaching English. For the last 8 weeks I've been teaching an English TOEFL preparation course for extra cash. It has gone well and tomorrow is my last day. The kids and I are excited to be able to have more time together. I only teach 2 hours and 15 minutes a day but it feels so long when I'm away from home. I never imagined that I would be a working mom but am learning that sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get through. God has been my rock and Hetee has been wonderful. We also have a wonderful girl who helps us with the kids and housework. She's my angel. =)

We are preparing to start homeschooling on September 1st in accordance with the Mongolian school year. This is something that I have really been struggling over. I have days when my confidence soars then I have days when I just feel so overwhelmed. And we haven't even started yet! I haven't purchased any curriculum since we have inherited so many schooling books from other foreigners who have left the field. Needless to say this has left me with a lot of work upfront, to sort and plan lessons for our first and second grader. Then, there's Kenny. Anybody know what to do with a curious 3-year-old while the others are doing school? I have some activity books and computer games to keep him busy for maybe an hour but beyond that, we'll just have to see.

We are planning to move our family into an apartment (we live in a small house with a yard now) over the winter. This will save some money and hopefully allow us to buy a car before the baby arrives in November. Please pray for us to find an affordable apartment and for the move.

Thanks for tuning in! More to come...