Granola: Take 2

Let me tell you how an amazing woman became a dear friend of mine.

I first met her in middle school (it feels like a century ago). We weren't really friends at the time but we knew each other.

We continued on to two different high schools.

Coincidentally, my friend and I both got part time jobs working at a local restaurant. It was fun, a lot of fun. I wish jobs were still that fun and carefree. Working with your friends, laughing and playing jokes on each other. Sticking around an hour after work just because you wanted to...yeah, I miss those days.

My friend and I would chit-chat at work about girl stuff.

We both went to college and continued our lives in two different directions.

Fast forward to 2008. I was approaching my high school reunion and signed up on something called Facebook. Apparently it was some social networking site that would help me "reconnect with old friends" before the reunion - or at least that's what the flyer claimed that accompanied my invitation to the reunion. 

Reunion came and went, had a great time, and I continued to play around on Facebook.

Sometime last year my friend and I bumped into each other on FB and this time we became friends. Friends in a Facebook kinda way. Little did I know we would become great friends, in real life too.

Funny how people come in and out of your life at the right times. We have so much in common, yet are different in so many ways that it's refreshing. I am sincerely grateful to Facebook for bringing her back into my life - corny, I know, but so true. xo

This friend of mine is extremely kind, funny, loving, caring, giving, generous, smart, creative, etc, etc. I hope she knows how awesome she is.

The other day I received this in the mail from her:

Nothing fancy, but perfect for me. An article she ripped out from a magazine about making homemade granola. Yes, totally perfect for me. Thank you again, friend, for sending that.

So, the night before I received this in the mail I had some down time all to myself and was doing some "blog research" or so I'll call it. I finally stumbled across the infamous Orangette. A blog that every cooking blog reader has heard of, but, oddly I had never taken the time to actually read. So I read. I got to know a little about Orangette and who writes it. I liked it.

Now back to the magazine article (stay with me). I'm sitting at the Doctor's office, waiting to be called and reading about granola. Half way through I randomly remembered that Orangette (aka Molly Wizenberg) writes a monthly column for Bon Appetit. Hmm. I glance down to the bottom of the first page and see  Bon Appetit.com / June 2010. Oh, cool. I then glanced to the end of the article and read Molly Wizenberg is the voice behind the award-winning blog Orangette and the author of a Homemade Life. I thought that was a pretty cool coincidence.

Today I made granola from a recipe that my friend sent me, from Bon Appetit magazine, written by Molly Wizenberg, who is Orangette. Check it out.

This granola blows away the last granola I made. I love it. And you should try it. If you're the make-your-own-granola kinda gal.

Everyday Granola

makes about 5 cups

3 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

3 TB (packed) brown sugar

¾ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp (generous) salt

1/3 cup honey

2 TB vegetable oil

1 cup assorted dried fruit

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Stir honey and oil in saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; toss. Spread on prepared sheet. Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes. Place sheet on rack. Stir granola; cool. Mix in fruit. Do ahead – Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight.

I don’t care for coconut, so I left it out completely. I used dried cranberries, but left it out of the entire mixture – that way it can be added to individual bowls when wanted.