Busy Brunette Bakerista

Californians are known for eating healthy, exercising, and always on the go. I found a simple recipe for homemade granola in an old magazine and adapted it to just the right ratio of spice, crunch, and dried fruit. My friend and neighbors love this and I often make it for teacher gifts. Enjoy! Crunchy California Granola 4 cups of rolled oats  1 cup of wheat germ or wheat bran 1 cup of slivered almonds 1/2 cup of sesame seeds  1/4 cup of brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon  (or even pumpkin pie spice) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil 1/3 cup honey 1/6 cup maple syrup 1/6 cup water 8 oz. dried cranberries 8 oz. raisins Pre-eat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray, then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), and salt. Make a well in the dry ingredients and ad...

Throwback to my very first recipe post ever!! My very good friend in college, Tori, gave me this recipe when we were roommates in college. Apparently it was passed down from her grandmother and she made it all the time. It’s simple, moist, buttery, and yummy! I have great memories of baking this with her while in Seattle on rainy days. Tori, this is for you! English Matrimonial Oat Bars 1 ½ cup flour 1 c. brown sugar 1 ¼ c. rolled oats ¾ c. butter (room temperature, cut into cubes) ¾ boysenberry or raspberry seedless jam (or any other seedless Knott's Berry Farm jam) Preheat oven to 325 ° F.  Mix together flour, sugar, and rolled oats in a bowl. Work in butter using a fork or pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly.  Press ½ of mixture evenly into a greased 8”x 8”x 2” greased pan.  Spread jam over top. Press remaining half of crumb mixture over jam layer.  Bake for 40 – 45 minutes. Cool and cut...

These brownies are loaded with healthy oats and creamy chocolate. My children’s friends eat these up in one sitting!   Oat crust and crumble topping 2 ½ cup regular oats, or quick-cooking oats ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup packed brown sugar ½ teaspoon baking soda ¾ cup butter, melted Chocolate Brownie Filling 4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate 2 / 3 cup butter 2 cups granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 eggs 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking power 1 teaspoon salt Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl mix oats, ¾ cup flour, brown sugar, and baking soda.  Stir in melted ¾ cup butter until combined. Reserve ¾ cup oat mixture for the topping and set aside. Press remaining oat mixture in baking pan.  Bake for 10 minutes and let cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat chocolate and 2/3 cup butter over low heat in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until melted. R...