I am:

thinking about my Dad's birthday and hoping that he likes his new Shun knife

loving this simple granola recipe that I tweaked from Bon Appetit (see below)

interested in this article about Google's new changes for recipe search

looking for a great cushy rug for our living room space—any ideas?

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gather
5 cups old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (I used Vietnamese cinnamon)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 hot water from the kettle
1 tablespoon bourbon vanilla extract
generous pinch of kosher salt
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 cup dried cranberries, chopped

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Toss oats, pecans, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk oil, maple syrup, hot water, vanilla, and salt in a measuring glass. Drizzle over oat mixture and toss to coat. (I find that it's easier to just dive in with clean hands.) Divide granola between two sheets and spread into a thin layer.

Bake 20 minutes; stir and reverse baking sheets (bottom comes to top rack and vice versa). Bake until golden brown about 20 minutes more. If you notice that the nuts are getting too crispy, lower oven temperature to 250 degrees F. Cool sheets of granola on a wire rack and toss dried fruit to combine. When granola has thoroughly cooled, transfer to airtight plastic bags or airtight canisters for week-long snacking.

[1. c. lynn]

I've been looking for a gratifying granola recipe ever since I got hooked on Greek yogurt. Sure, I could just pick up a package of this pre-made staple at the market and happily eat my morning yogurt parfaits, but then I would miss out on the heavenly nutty smell that invades my kitchen and filters through the crack under the door of A's office each time I make it. Who could resist? It's easy to pull together on a Sunday, store in an air-tight container, and enjoy throughout the week. I'm certain homemade granola is a godsend for families and snackers alike. And this recipe is particularly good with a perfect ratio of oats and nuts to dried fruit.

Honey Cinnamon Granola (from the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills)

(makes 11 cups)

4 cups of Muesli mix (don't use a mix with dried fruit already added; you'll be baking this in the oven and the fruit will burn and taste bitter)

3 cups of old-fashioned oats

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1 cup sliced almonds

3/4 cup coarsely chopped hazelnuts

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Mix muesli, oats, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts in a large bowl. Bring honey and oil just to a boil in small saucepan; drizzle over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread mixture onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and dry, stirring every 15 minutes, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Scatter dried fruit and sprinkle cinnamon over toasted mixture and toss to incorporate evenly. Cool granola completely in pan on rack, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.

via Bon Appetit December 2009

[1. c_lynn]