Homemade Granola 2 Ways

If there is anything that is always present in our pantry , it is granola. I like it, a lot! Almost everyday, I have it on top of greek yogurt and honey, it is definitely a staple around here. Lately, I have seen a number of different recipes popping up around the web, and considering it is one of the more expensive items on our grocery list, I really wanted to try and make my own. However, none of the flavors or ingredients really hit the spot for me. So I decided to try my hand at creating my own. In fact, I would say this is first recipe I have ever written entirely on my own. Well, since I created two different kinds, the first TWO recipes I have ever written.

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Ingredients

2 Cups of Old Fashioned Oats (don’t use quick cooking)

1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Cup Dried Dates

1/2 Cups Walnuts

2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds (optional)

2 Tablespoons Ground Flax (optional)

1 & 1/2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 Tablespoons of Butter

1/3 Cup Agave Syrup

1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla

Pinch of Salt

Directions

Pre heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

Mix the oats, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, dates, chia seeds, ground flax and the salt in a large bowl.

In a small pot mix the butter, vanilla, agave syrup and bring to a slight boil. Once boiling remove from the heat and add the pumpkin spice, stir until combined.

Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture on to the parchment paper and spread it out evenly.

Bake at 325 for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown, tossing the mixture several times. Don’t worry if the mixture still seems soft it will become nice and crunchy as it cools. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Cranberry Walnut Granola

Ingredients

2 Cups of Old Fashioned Oats (don’t use quick cooking)

1/2 Cup Craisins (dried cranberries)

1/2 Cups Walnuts

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/4 Coconut

2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds (optional)

2 Tablespoons Ground Flax (optional)

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons of Butter

1/3 Cup Agave Syrup

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

Pinch of Salt

Directions

Pre heat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

Mix the oats, craisins, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut, chia seeds, ground flax and the salt in a large bowl.

In a small pot mix the butter, vanilla, agave syrup and bring to a slight boil. Once boiling remove from the heat and add the cinnamon, stir until combined.

Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture on to the parchment paper and spread it out evenly.

Bake at 325 for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown, tossing the mixture several times. Don’t worry if the mixture still seems soft it will become nice and crunchy as it cools. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

These recipes are incredibly versatile, you can swap the agave for honey, butter for oil and use whatever mix ins your heart desires, just make sure you have a total of 1.5 cups. Have fun with it!

Monday Morsels

I think I had the most productive and low-key weekend I have had in a very long time. Thursday night I was lucky enough to enjoy Carrie Underwood from the 9th row! Technically Thursday isn’t part of the weekend, but I wanted to share how amazing she looked!

She sounded phenomenal,  put on an awesome show and she was so close! The photos above are via iPhone…amazing! On Friday we decided to take it easy and stayed in. We rented “The 5 Year Engagement” (my turn to choose of course!) and had a good laugh.

Image Credit

Saturday Andrew had to work, so I got up nice and early, took Lulu to the groomers and then on a lovely Fall Walk.

She made sure I got her best angle!  I spent the afternoon in the kitchen making homemade granola. Check back tomorrow for the recipe!

And then on Saturday evening we went and saw another movie (Andrew’s choice) and yes.. our lives are so exciting we watched two movies in one weekend.

Image Credit

“End of Watch” was better than I expected and not just because Jake Gyllenhaal was in it. The plot was good, but there was a lot of violence. I could have definitely gone for something with a little bit more fluff, Jake helped me through.

Sunday was a day of work, we FINALLY finished our kitchen.

Before

After

Since buying the apartment we refinished all of the cabinets and the counter top, replaced the appliances, installed new flooring and painted. I think that our little face lift worked wonders. Eventually (when our bank accounts allow it) we will probably replace the cabinets but for now I think it looks a million times better. And I won’t take any credit since Andrew and his Dad did pretty much everything 🙂

Happy Monday!

Xo

Happy Thanksgiving!

I actually can’t believe that thanksgiving is already upon us. It seems like the past few months have just flown by. This year, I am incredibly thankful for YOU. Without you, this blog would not exist, well… it probably would but no one would read it. Regardless, the fact that you spend any amount of time here warms my heart.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Xo

The Roost Tribe

About a month or so ago, one of my favorite bloggers, Bonnie from Going Home to Roost started something pretty fantastic…The Roost Tribe. Essentially, it is a monthly membership that provides you with some pretty unique benefits including; printables, recipes, graphics, blogging tips, and much more premium content you won’t find anywhere else.

Not only is it awesome but at only $5, a month, it’s kind of like stealing! I have no problem giving up one Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte a month to reap the benefits of the roost tribe…and that’s saying a lot, I really like Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Sign up today and you will still receive all of the October goodies.

You’re Welcome!

 

Thanksgiving Recipe Round Up

Since this weekend marks Canadian Thanksgiving, I thought I might share a few a few recipes to celebrate the occasion. Hopefully they will inspire you to create something tasty in the kitchen, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not!

A lot of people (including myself) are intimated by even the thought of roasting a turkey. Whole Foods has a great Golden Roasted Turkey recipe that I think will help push your fears aside.

Fill your turkey with Martha Stewart’s Mushroom and Walnut Stuffing

And then serve it with delicious sides like Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes from Spoon Fork Bacon

Caramelized Brussel Sprouts from Jenna at Eat Live Run

Maple Roasted Squash via Good Housekeeping

And for dessert, how about these adorable Pies in a Jar from The Nerd’s Wife

Man I love jars! Not into pie? Try a less traditional Thanksgiving treat like Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake via My Baking Addiction

And don’t forget cocktails! Fall inspired of course.

Try the Candy Apple Martini from Canadian living

or this Autumn Punch via Better Homes an Gardens

We are not having a traditional thanksgiving dinner this year, so do me a favor, make something from this list and tell me all about it. I like to live vicariously through my people.

Enjoy!

Xo

Last Thing Thursdays

It’s Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday, which means today is a good day. Take my advice and just go with it, deal? Okay good!

The Last Thing…

I Made. This One Earth Chia Chia Coconut Cookie Mix

Holy was it good! You know me, I like to bake, but it is almost always from scratch. I was a little bit skeptical about these wheat free cookies, but my goodness was I wrong. They were delicious. They had a slightly different texture than a regular cookie, but it was by no means a bad thing, they were moist and chewy, packed with fiber, and had great flavor . Not only will I make them again, I can’t wait to try more One Earth products, specifically the Banana Quinoa Granola Bar Mix.

I Wanted to Make. This!

Pinch of Yum‘s Butternut Squash Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Apples. Enough said!

I Downloaded. The VSCO CAM App. And let me tell you it’s worth every one of the 99 pennies it cost. Here is a before, and after of a photo I took.

Before

After

You really want those carrots, I know you do! The VSCO Camera app has quite a few more settings, and editing capabilities in comparison to other camera apps I have used. I was able to edit this photo, save, and then upload it to Instagram without adding any additional filters. I think I am in love.

I Ogled on Etsy. The On Your Case Store

How Cute are these iPhone cases, I want at least 6 of them, that’s normal right?

Thought was Genius. Thanks to Ashley, my coffee will never go cold again.

Use a candle warmer to keep your coffee or tea warm, genius I tell ya!

I Pinned. This beautiful home.

The ceiling is absolutely amazing, so rustic. I dream of having a home like this! Speaking of homes, Diary of a Jewell is giving away two pairs of tickets to the Vancouver Home and Design Show, Oct 11-14. Head over to our Facebook Page and share it for a chance to win, contest ends tomorrow!

I Was Looking Forward to. Today!!! Why you ask? Because I am so excited to see Carrie Underwood in concert.

Yes, I have seen her before, but who cares?!

I hope that the evening you have planned is as enjoyable as mine! It’s all a matter of opinion right?! If not, well…revel in the fact the weekend is almost here!

Xo

Scarf Envy

I don’t know about you, but the moment that infinity scarves were introduced my whole world was changed. Before the circle scarves hit shelves and necks across the world, I really struggled with incorporating this adorable accessory into my wardrobe. I would spend wasted time in front of the mirror struggling to make them work.

To me, they never looked quite right, they were frumpy, too long, or covered half of my face. Which is why  infinity scarves were, well, nothing short of genius! I never knew how much I needed them until my closet was full of them. They really can spruce up any outfit and they are perfect for not only fall, but any season. Here are a few I am currently coveting.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

Oh and don’t worry, thanks to several online tutorials and you tube videos I can now also perfectly wrap a regular scarf around my neck…just in case you were wondering. And if you need a little help (don’t worry we’ve all been there) here is handy little tutorial.

How to Tie a Scarf 5 Ways

What is you favorite Fall accessory?

Falling for Autumn

I can not believe it is already the second day in October, time really does fly! I think its safe to say Fall is finally here in Vancouver. Officially, the first day of Fall was almost two weeks ago, but at that time we were still enjoying sunshine and abnormally warm temperatures, and I was cursing Summer for still kicking around. And I am sure you are now cursing me for getting rid of what is likely your favorite season. And to that I say…you had time people, and now its mine! Selfish? Maybe…but I am okay with that. There are a lot of reasons why Fall is my favorite season. Let’s break it down shall we?

Monday Morsels

Oh hey there Monday, so nice to see you…well maybe not so much. I had a fantastic and somewhat relaxing weekend, relaxing, yes that is what I said. Weird, I know! On Friday I received a couple of sweet surprises in the mail.

This adorable print from Bonnie over at Going Home to Roost.

I can’t wait to frame it and find a place for it in our home. And then I opened my September Glossybox.

It was packed full of goodies, including; a full makeup palette, deodorant, Wella shine serum and more. It might just be my favorite yet! I also watched this little rugrat play soccer.

Did a bit of shopping and then caught up on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. I am so devastated that the season is over!

On Saturday, I started the day with a little bit of reading

I don’t know where my deep love for magazines stems from but you can always count on finding a giant stack of them under my coffee table.

I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning, and then I filled the house with groceries…not very exciting at all, but someone has got to do it! On Saturday night we decided to see a movie.

I think the last movie I saw in the theater was Magic Mike, it felt like I hadn’t been to the theater in forever! Trouble with the Curve was awesome, and no, not just because it was a baseball movie. It had a great cast and I really enjoyed it, I would definitely recommend it.

On Sunday I did the CIBC Run For The Cure. The Fun Bags (thanks Nick) totally rocked!  What an amazing and inspiring morning. I am so happy to have shared it with some of my favorite people!

And to my own surprise, I crushed that 5k. And then, I finally had the opportunity to attend the Food Cart Fest at The Waldorf Hotel. Where I enjoyed some well deserved pupusas at the Guanaco Food Truck.

I also sampled the Steamed Chicken Bun at Le tigre

and ended the day with some Earnest ice Cream.

Seriously people, you have got to try this ice cream. It is absolutely amazing, so creamy, possibly even the best I have ever had. My flavor choice? You guessed it, Hair of the Pig…and it was to die for!

You should go get some…like now!

Happy Monday!

Xo

Cupcakes and Cashmere – The Book!

You guys seriously you need this book! And no, not just because I love Emily’s Blog, because it is probably the most practical and informative book I think I have ever purchased. And it looks just perfect on my coffee table.

The book itself is divided into each of the four seasons; Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. With each season providing different tips, tricks and DIY’s. Most importantly, it has taught me how to build my wardrobe and incorporate the same staple pieces throughout the year. Since I am so smitten, I thought I would share my favorite highlights from each season.

Spring

Navigating the Flea Market.

This is something I have always been intimated by and hence, why I have never actually been to a flea market. I feel like the hoarder within me would be unleashed, and I would come home with a million things I would never look at again. Emily does a great job explaining what to look for and how to strike a deal. The flea market is now on my list of to-do’s.

How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement.

I suck at making flowers look nice, I usually just throw them in a mason jar and hope they survive, I never thought twice about it. But after reading this section I now feel like I have the confidence to trim and arrange a lovely display.

Summer

The perfect pie crust recipe.

This has been on my list of things to learn for quite some time. Now that I have a recipe I might just attempt it, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I can’t think of a better time to bake a homemade pie!

How to Shift Your Wardrobe from Summer to Fall.

I have always struggled with season changes, in fact most of the time I use them as an excuse to buy a whole new wardrobe. This piece has allowed me to look at my wardrobe in a whole new way, and maybe even save a few dollars.

Fall

How to Apply Fake Eyelashes.

Maybe this is an easy task for some of you, in fact, I know it is, because I watch my friends effortlessly apply them before a night out. Well, I am the polar opposite, in fact sometime I refer to myself as a boy. I prefer cleats to high heels, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look like a lady every now and again, and long eyelashes play a part in that.  I have tried unsuccessfully on many occasions to try and apply these. After reading this step by step guide I know why, and I wonder how it’s possible that I have spent so much time sweating in the bathroom while my eye is glued shut. Thanks to Emily, I am turning over a new leaf (and hopefully never gluing my eye shut again).

How to Photograph Pretty.

It’s hit or miss for me, I don’t think that is going to change. However, I did enjoy this little explanation.

Winter

The Perfect Gift Guide.

Without giving you specific items, Emily teaches you how to easily brainstorm the perfect for just about anyone.

Layering Logistics.

I love layering, summer or winter, I think it’s the perfect way to diversify your outfit. This quick guide is the perfect starting point for creating both textured and functional outfits.

Although some of the content may seem like common sense, it is so nice to have something to refer to and use as a guide, or at least a starting point. I like lists, schedules and instructions, not everyone does, but whether you need instruction or not I guarantee this book will teach something new.

Seriously, I can not say enough about this book, I absolutely love it. Cupcakes and Cashmere and I are a match made in heaven; recipes, fashion tips, entertaining strategies and so much more…pure bliss, I tell ya!

Image Credits – Emily Schuman