My Granola

I put together my very own granola recipe…I think this would have to be the only recipe I’ve ever made – I used another recipe and chopped and changed until I got it just right…and you can make it as cheap or as expensive as you want depending on what nuts you use.

Ingredients:
6 cups rolled oats (just use the cheapest brand you can find)
3 cups nuts (whatever you feel like – you can do 3 cups of walnuts if you’re on a budget)
1 cup seeds (sunflower, sesame etc)
1 cup wheat germ
2 cups shredded coconut
1 tsp salt
2 Tbs Cinnamon (or not, if you don’t like cinnamon)
1 cup veg oil (you could probably use whatever oil you like)
3/4 – 1 cup honey
2 Tbs brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
raisins (and/or other dried fruit)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 165 C  (325 F) -  If you have a fan forced oven as I currently do, set it to 135 C.
2. Mix oats, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, coconut, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. In a small pan over medium heat stir the oil, honey, brown sugar and vanilla until they are blended.
4. Pour the heated mixture into the nut mixture and stir until well combined.
5a. If you want a crunchier granola (my preference): spread mixture on a cookie sheet with baking paper on it to no more than 1/2 inch thick and bake it in the oven for about 35 min.
5b. If you like a chewier granola: spread mixture thickly on the cookie sheet and bake for about 20 min. (it also helps if you use more honey, but I don’t like my granola that sweet).
6. Remove the granola from the oven and sprinkle over as much or as little dried fruit as you like.  use a fork to mix together on the cookie sheet, then spread out to cool.
7.  Once your granola is cooled store in an airtight container (zip lock freezer bags work as well as anything).

This granola is great for changing to suit your taste, so if you make it and it’s not quite the way you like it - add or subtract different ingredients to get it the way you like…

“But How’s He DO That?”

My three year old son is now fully into the “why” stage…usually followed by “how”.  He started asking me where things come from…

Seth: Mummy, where’s this apple come from

Me: Jesus (or God) made it.

Seth: How’s he DO that? (read wonder and amazement into that question). 

Now he pre-empts the answer

Seth: Did Jesus make this table?

Me: Yes

Seth: How’s he DO that?

Me: Well, he gives people ideas, creativity and ability so they can do it.

Seth: OOOooohhhh!

Seth is also really into ‘best friends’.  Every kid that turns up at the playground is his new best friend so I told him Jesus wants to be his best friend…that put a huge smile on his face…then I told him when Jesus is his best friend he lives inside of him…(what am I getting myself into)…Seth swiftly responds “how’s he DO that”  After a brief pause searching my brain for some sort of response I said “the Holy Spirit (yes, that’s right, I’m trying to teach my 3 year old about the trinity) is the part of Jesus that can live inside of you, that way you will never be alone and he can help you to not be naughty”.  So now when he’s having trouble doing something I tell him to ask Jesus for help…problem is when he’s frustrated he’s not interested in asking for help, he just wants to sulk.

Now he talks about the Holy Spirit living inside of his tummy…which is about the right spot…and I just trust that God will give him enough understanding to make up for the bits that I try to explain a bit wonky!!

Thoughts

I was just reading this morning in Acts 14 particularly verse 3 which says “So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. 

Then I read in 1 Corinthians 2:4 which says “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power…”

I am eager to see God’s power at work…do I forget about God’s message coming first?  And taking that backwards, do we speak God’s message but have no expectation of God’s power following?

…just my thoughts for the morning…