Happy New Year! After taking a few weeks off to travel and cook up a storm for the holidays, I am settling back into routines. This week I’ll share a wonderful and easy little granola recipe and I’ll briefly recap all the delicious food I made over the holidays. With seven guests in our 1300 sq ft house, the home was bustling and full of laughter. Nerfs flew past my head as I stirred creamy polenta and homemade sauce. Code Names game nights left us laughing so hard we cried. NYC called our names as we joined the epic holiday rush in what I would consider to be the best Christmas city in the world. It was a full week and such a joy.
All my Holiday Food:
Day 1 was what I called my Southwestern Feast as everyone shuffled in from the airport, pozole was warm on the stove. Homemade Pico de Gallo was waiting for munching while I finished the feast. Pozole with Green Sauce, Radishes and Cilantro sat beside Tacos Al Pastor with Pink Pickled Onions and Avocado. YUM YUM!
Day 2 started out with making Spanish tortilla for the first time. We had already munched on my homemade granola (recipe below) and so Spanish tortilla was more of a brunch meal. If you’ve never had spanish tortilla, it is a MUST. Its so comforting and homey and a total staple in Spain. Since it was my first time making it, I relied on the NYT to give me a straightforward recipe. By dinner time I decided to warm up Meatballs I had made a few weeks before in a quick and nutrious tomato sauce, along side Swiss Chard and Leeks, and Creamy Polenta. An Italian Feast :)
Day 3 was NYC all the way. We had pizza and hot dogs and bagels and donuts. What blast.
On the final two days, I made a new oatmeal recipe what was like a magical mix between custard and oatmeal with fresh berries on top. Lunch called for my Chickpeas and Hummus recipe, and finally for dinner I made Jamie Oliver’s Pork and Mash Gratin—the most Christmasy Original I’ve ever had. Seared pork tenderloin baked on top of cheesy mashed potatoes with crispy sage and prosciutto. This is hands-down one of my favorite recipes of all time. Thank you Jamie Oliver.
There you have it! A busy week but full of joy. Now how about a new recipe!?!
Never-the-Same Granola
I love making homemade granola. A few basic and inexpensive ingredients come together for a crispity crunchity wonder, and every time I make it I add different mix-ins, changing it up slightly. I love recipes like this, where once you understand the basic makeup, you can adjust it however you want.
Rolled oats, a sweet syrup like honey or maple, a bit of fat like vegetable oil or butter, a pinch of salt, and a joyful handful of shredded coconut.
That’s the basic makeup, and then it’s a free-for-all from there. Read more about this fun recipe HERE.