saturday mugs, sunday mornings + granola

we have these wonderful monogrammed mugs from anthropologie that we called our "sunday mugs" because we used them every sunday for our morning coffee.

yet, we have started a new tradition of going out for breakfast every sunday morning because this is the day that we are more reliably all home and available.  thus, our "sunday mugs" have become our "saturday mugs" and sunday has become our "out for breakfast day."

around 8 o'clock, just the three of us head out and have our choice of hot breakfast spots before the crowds pour in.  we get to enjoy the company of each other, eat a deliciously yummy meal, and allow  jack to regularly be exposed to dining out.  it's wonderful and one of the many traditions that we will create for our little family unit over the years.  a few sundays back, we ate at highland bakery, a place we LOVE and i opted for a lighter breakfast of mimi muffins to share, homemade granola with 2% milk, and fresh fruit.  any of you who know me well, know that i die for granola...it is one of my very favorite foods.  i would love to buy a bag every time i see it homemade so i can try all the yummy flavor combinations.  anyway, my sunday morning highland bakery breakfast inspired me to make a batch of homemade granola for my house.  there are a lot of granola recipes out there.  this one is a real treat for me, but not david, because of the coconut.  i would love other recipes if you have one and want to share...i'm always on the hunt for good granola.

homemade granola

mix 10 cups old fashined rolled oats, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups wheat germ, 2c coconut, 2 cup mixture of chopped pecans and sliced almonds in a large bowl.

next, in a separate bowl, mix 4 tablespoons vanilla extract, 1/2 cup water, 2 cups honey, 1 cup (or less) oil.  add these wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.

spread in shallow baking pans.  bake at 250 degrees until deep golden and almost dry, about 2 1/2 hours.  stir gently every 15 minutes or so while baking.  after removing from the oven, allow to completely cool, then store tightly covered in the refrigerator.

ways to eat your oatmeal: put milk over it and eat as cereal, top it with yogurt and fruit, eat it plain, add dried fruits...however you eat it, enjoy every crumble.