Homemade Granola

 I have been looking for an easy granola recipe for a while.  We buy a granola when we are in Michigan that they call, "Crunch."  The only problem is that it's a little too sweet.  

Fount this recipe here and love that you can add in whatever nuts or seeds you have on hand.

Here's the recipe:

Homemade Granola

ingredients:

1 TBSP maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 TBSP Almond Butter

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup oats

2 TBSP (pick one: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, or raisins)

1/4 cup pecans*

2 TBSP unsweetened coconut shreds

directions:

Oven 325F.

Line Cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

In a medium sized bowl, mix the syrup, almond butter and vanilla until combined.

Add oats, seeds, nuts, coconut shreds and cranberries.  Mix until all is completely combined.

Spread granola evenly onto baking sheet.  

Bake for 15 minutes.  Pull cookie sheet out and gently flip the granola.  Bake for another five minutes.

Let cool.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*I used almond butter, feel free to substitute peanut butter or sunbutter

*I like pecans, almonds or walnuts would make a good substitute.

*If you really like it sweet, you can add in some chocolate chips.  Do this after you remove the granola from the oven.

*This recipe makes a small amount.  Feel free to double or triple the recipe.  

* I store my granola in a glass jar in the pantry.

If you make the granola, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy!

Pajamas

 When did it become acceptable to wear pajamas in public?  

I mean, I know there are quite a few people that think it's perfectly acceptable to wear pajamas in a WalMart.  But, to a Costco?  The grocery store?  These sightings are in the afternoon, so we can't use the excuse that they just rolled out of bed.  They look like they've been up for awhile.  Maybe their wardrobe consists of all pajamas?  

Do you wear your pajamas when you run errands?

Retail Problems - Self Checkout

 With all of those complaints I see on social media about using self-checkout and having to ring your own merchandise, my reply is, you can go to a register with a cashier.  No one is forcing you to use self-checkout (SCO).  And SCO is for 15 items or less, not a cart that is overflowing with merchandise.

Here are a couple of things seen and/or heard at SCO (alcohol edition).

I had to card a woman for her alcohol purchase.  Apparently, it was a non-alcoholic beverage.  I told her that it might contain a small about of alcohol.  The machine flagged it, so I have to se an ID.  She rattles off her birthday.  I reply with, "I have to see the physical ID."  I explain the state and store policy.  After a huge sigh, she digs out her ID.  When she left, I cheerfully said goodbye.  She grumbled something and walked away.

A customer came up to SCO and asked, "Is it going to freak out if I scan alcohol?"

A customer walks up and shows me a bottle of alcohol and asks, "What am I supposed to do with this?"  After a long day of dealing with customers, my answer, "I'll take it!"

Paint

 RT has been doing a little painting around the house.  We have a little checklist of things that need to be done prior to putting the house on the market.  RT has been checking things off the list one by one.  We are down to the last few things.  It's starting to sink in that we are actually going to move.

With all of this painting going on, I have noticed that paint smells like a bad foot odor.  I have been opening windows and turning the fans on because I don't want to smell bad feet.  

Does anyone else feel like they are breathing through someone's shoe after putting on a coat of paint?

Witness

 I was involved in a car accident a couple of months ago.  The youngest child and I survived.  My front bumper took a beating, though.

I was driving the child to school (she had late arrival and I was being nice).  I saw the accident start; one car hit another.  The car that got hit, spun through the intersection then skidded until it hit the front of my car.  I was stopped, fifteen feet from the start of the intersection thinking, "I'm a witness, how am I going to get the child to school and be here when the police arrive?"  That changed when my car was hit. The car that caused the accident was an Uber driver.  Yes, he just picked up his passenger at the train station.  

A couple weeks after the accident, I received a letter in the mail requesting my presence at court as a witness for the accident.  I was a little leery about going.  The last time I was involved in an accident (23 years ago and not my fault) I showed up at court as requested and was repeatedly asked why I was in attendance by the judge.  

For the record, I did appear in court, armed with both letter requests (yes, I received two).  I had my speech prepared.  I thought I would be asked to describe what happened that day.  I thought it would be very formal.  The courtroom had some chairs set out in rows, the judge's large desk and a place for people to pay their fines.  I was called up with the Uber driver and stood there for a few minutes and then was dismissed.  The judge made sure to thank me for my time and to have a pleasant day.  

 I was a little disappointed that I didn't have to recount the events of that day but grateful for the appreciation shown by the judge.

Random Acts of Kindness Day 2024

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day!

 How cool would it be if everyone practiced RAOK's every day?  The world would be a lot friendlier and happier, don't you think? 

So, you know the drill.  Try to see how many Random Acts of Kindness you can do today.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Write that letter.
It can be a Thank You letter.  It can be just a little note telling someone that you were thinking of them.  Maybe it's someone you don't see that often.  Let them know how important they are to have in your life.

Put others first.
I always tell my children to think of others first.  This could mean letting someone ahead of you in line.  Letting someone have the first slice of pizza or even leaving the last piece of pie for the next person. 

Compliment
Dish out compliments to people.  I think everyone likes to hear positive praise.

Clean up.
Maybe it's picking up random trash on the path where you usually walk or run.  It could be as simple as taking out the garbage, run the vacuum or doing the dishes.

Send a message.
It could be a friendly text message.  An inspirational text or even a thank you text.  How about leaving notes of inspiration in random places at home or work?  You can write them on post-it notes. 

I just rattled off quite a few quick, easy RAOK's that you can do today.  If you need some more ideas, you can search Random Acts of Kindness on the blog.  There are quite a few posts with lots of great ideas.  Give one a try and let me know what happened!

Rosemary Focaccia Bread

 This summer we visited quite a few farmer's markets.  Produce, baked goods and freshly made bread.   If you've been following along for a while, you know that good bread is a priority in our house.  After purchasing some.....not so good tasting bread, I decided that I would try my hand at making it myself.  Of course, turning the oven on in the 90F heat just to goof off making bread is not my idea of fun.  So, I waited until the temperatures dropped a little.  This focaccia bread has become a family favorite and thought I would share it here.  

Here's the recipe:

Rosemary Focaccia Bread

ingredients:

1 3/4 cups warm water

1 packet dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp)

2 tsp sugar

4 1/2 cups bread flour*

1 TBSP kosher salt

1/2 cup olive oil 

For the top:

2-3 TBSP olive oil

2 tsp coarse, flaky sea salt

2 TBSP fresh rosemary 

directions:

In a small bowl combine warm water with the yeast and sugar.  Stir and let sit until foamy (about 5 minutes).

In large bowl, combine flour and salt.  Once the yeast is ready, pour into flour mixture and mix.  Slowly add the olive oil.  Once dough is combined, knead for about five minutes* until sides have pulled away.  The dough should be soft.  If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour.

Coat a bowl with olive oil and place dough into bowl, rolling it until it is covered with the oil.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Set bowl in warm place until doubled. (about an hour)

Grab a 13x9 dish, and coat with some olive oil.  

When the dough is ready, place in this dish and press out until it reaches sides of the dish.  If the dough bounces back, then let it rest ten minutes before pressing it down.  Cover lightly with the plastic wrap and let rise for an hour.

Oven 425F.

Dimple the dough by pressing your finger tips down into the dough.  Drizzle with some olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and top it off with the rosemary.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is a golden brown.  

Remove from the oven and drizzle a little more olive oil (optional).

Let cool for ten minutes before cutting into pieces.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*You might need a little extra flour if dough is sticky

*I mixed the dough by hand.  Feel free to use your kitchenaid with the dough hook.

If you make the Rosemary Focaccia Bread, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy!

St. Valentine

 I thought I would do a little deep dive into the history of Valentine's Day.  If you know me, then you know that I believe Valentine's Day should be a National Holiday.  I'm not talking Hallmark cards and gifts.  More like flowers, poems, homemade cards and pouring out your love for one another.

There isn't much information about St. Valentine.  What we do know is that he was a physician and a Roman priest.  He performed many marriages, thus the saint of love and marriage.  Valentine was big on spreading the word of God.  This happened to get him into trouble when he suggested to Claudius that he should become a Christian.  Valentine was sentenced to death.  He was to either renounce his faith or be clubbed to death.  Valentine refused and was executed on February 14.  A side story, that I'm not sure if it is true, Valentine, while awaiting his death sentence, sent a note to Asterius' daughter (the jailer's daughter that he healed from blindness) and signed the note, "from your Valentine."  

St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, marriage, bee keepers and people with epilepsy.

That lead me to another event that happened on this day in 1929 in Chicago, The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.  The event took place at a warehouse in Lincoln Park where seven men were lined up against the wall and shot by four unknown people (two were dressed as police officers).  These murders were a result of a struggle for control between Bugs Moran and his Irish North Siders and the Italian Chicago Outfit headed by Al Capone, during Prohibition.

Lots of death on a day that is supposed to be dedicated to love.  

Some interesting facts I dug up about this National Holiday:

Valentine's cards originated in England in the 1700's.  People would send cards and flowers to loved ones and sign them, "your Valentine."  

The heart symbol was something that was drawn in the middle ages to represent the actual human heart.  Since the human heart is associated with love and emotion, the heart shape became the symbol for romance.

In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's day.  Men return the favor by giving white chocolates on White Day which is March 14. 

In South Korea, single people who do not receive anything on Valentine's Day mourn their lack of love by eating black noodles on Black Day, which is celebrated on April 14.

In Denmark, there is an exchange of funny jokes and poems written on paper hearts.  Instead of signing their name, they put dots (symbol, not the word "dots").  If you guess who sent you the Valentine, you get an Easter egg later in the year.

In Guatemala the day is known as "el dia del carino" or the day of affection.  People dress up in masks and costumes and dance in the streets.  They exchange cards and gifts with loved ones, friends and coworkers.  The day is considered a celebration of love and friendship.

How do you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day this year?

Retail Problems - New Skills for my Resume

 More strange interactions with customers that I feel a need to share with everyone.

We have this 80-year-old woman that shops with us weekly.  How do I know her age?  Because she tells me every time I see her.

My first encounter with her, I noticed she was a little crabby.  She told me that's what happens when you get to be eighty years old.  She needed help getting the bags into her car.  I offered my help and asked if someone can help her when she gets home?  She replied that she has no one.  She does not have kids.  Never married and that she is an orphan (sad, I know). 

I think this 80 year old woman took a shine to me because she always comes to me to ring her out or with questions.  One day I tied her shoe for her and got her a shopping cart.  She said she is too old to bend and tie her shoes.  On another visit she asked for a pair of nail clippers.  I told her that we don't have any.  She asked for a pair of scissors.  I hand her the scissors and she tells me that she can't cut her fingernail because it's on her right hand.  So, there I am, cutting her fingernail with a Fiskars scissors.

I am taking nail appointments, let me know if you are interested.

Valentine's Day Craft Ideas

  It's finally February!  A time for love, hearts and all things red!  Oh, and it's also time for my favorite holiday, Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day, also known in our house as the National Holiday, is coming up and I thought I would put links to some crafts we have done here on A Scary Journey Inside My Life to get you ready for the big day. Some of these crafts are pretty easy and would be great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!  These are also great ideas for an indoor activity on those cold winter days.

Valentine's Placemat (children's craft)

Valentine's Day Bookmarks

Pallet (he)art

Homemade Valentine's Day cards

Felt Heart Pin or Barrette

Felt Heart Ornaments 

Valentine Photo Book

Valentine Love Picture

Valentine Love Frame

Looking for more fun things to do in February?  How about warming up the house (and some hearts) with some baking?  Check out the Recipes page to try something new!