Homemade Nut-Free Granola (with a Yogurt Parfait Bar)

This granola recipe is so easy and so delicious! But, besides being simple and delicious, it is nut-free, contains flax meal, and it will make your kitchen smell so good. 

Since the grits bar was such a huge success with the kids, I decided to take the homemade granola to the next level...with a yogurt parfait bar. Don't you want to just dig in?

First, we combined maple syrup, honey, brown sugar and coconut oil in a small pot...

...and heated it until it was just melted.

Then, we combined oats, crispy rice cereal, and flax meal in a large bowl.

...poured our maple syrup mixture in the bowl, mixed it up...

...added vanilla...

...then spread it over a cookie sheet, and sent it down to the oven to bake for 20 minutes.

Then, each child walked through the yogurt parfait bar with a scoop of vanilla yogurt and a choice of chia seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, strawberries, blueberries and, of course, homemade, nut-free granola! (A note about Chia Seeds. So, Chia Seeds are filled with fiber, omega 3's, and protein; in addition, they are benign in flavor, which make them the perfect healthy addition to a smoothie, a quick bread, or a yogurt parfait. I introduced them to the kids like this: "These are chia seeds. They are super healthy and if you like sprinkles, I am thinking that you will like chia seeds." As a result, MOST of the kids opted to try the chia seeds. One of my really tough customers ONLY had chia seeds on his yogurt, with a cluster of granola on the side.

The kids loved the yogurt parfait bar. One child said no thank you to the granola (which wasn't an option), so we asked her to try a granola cluster on the side. As a result, she said: "Miss Diana, may I please have some more granola by itself." (Such beautiful manners and she discovered something new.)

Quotes of the day:

1. "I'm going to make this at home with my mommy."

2. "I tried those chia seeds."

3. "Its raining oatmeal!"

4. Child 1: "You need to stir it nice and smooth." Child 2: "Yeah, just like Miss Linda, nice and smooth."

Thank you to Wendy Baig, Maddox's mom (Orange Room) for volunteering to help out on Thursday.

Thank you to Kim Copeland, Noah's mom (Purple Room) for helping out in Cooking Class on Friday!

Both moms got "right in there", raced up and down the stairs to bake the granola, helped the kids make their selections from the parfait bar, and took lots of great pictures. We had a great time! Thank you to Wendy and Kim!

Overall, the week in Cooking Class (with a fun recipe and two great guest chefs) was nice and smooth, just like Miss Linda.

Focaccia With the Kids!

What a delicious and wonderfully surprising recipe this is! The kids had so much fun making this very savory bread. And, I had the chance to teach more about herbs: plants that you can eat!

Thank you to Mrs. Dory for procuring beautiful long stems of fresh rosemary for the kids to explore. We examined the rosemary by smelling it, then talking about what it reminded us of. Everyone had  a chance to pull leaves off of their own sprig.

Then, I literally sprayed Olive Oil cooking spray directly on the kids hands. It was hilarious.

Then, we used our hands to spread the dough out into the baking pan.

Then, we "painted" on olive oil...

...sprinkled on our freshly chopped rosemary, and baked our focaccia for about 15 minutes.

Then, we painted on more olive oil, sprinkled with salt...

and sampled our homemade bread! We even had aged balsamic vinegar to dip it in!

Quotes of the day:
"This kind of bread is really yummy."
"I ate three pieces!"
"I ate a lot of that bread."

Thank you to Allana Taylor, Ella and Tate's mom, for volunteering on Thursday. She was accompanied by Ella and Tate's Aunt Micha and their grandmother! We love family events! Everyone was marvelously helpful and we had a great time. Thank you so much!

Focaccia With the Kids!

1 store-bought pizza dough (We used the ones from Trader Joe's.)

Nonstick spray for hands and baking tray

1/4 olive oil

3 tablespoons minced rosemary

1 to 2 tablespoons kosher salt

1) Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and spray a 13 x 18 inch baking tray with non stick spray. add the store-bought dough, straight from its package, and push and stretch it into a rectangle about 10 x 15 inches.

2) Brush generously with olive oil and sprinkle with the minced rosemary.

3) Bake in the center of the oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly brown on both the bottom and the top.

4) Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes, then let your children (child) brush on more olive oil and sprinkle with a little kosher salt.

5) Eat!

Yield: one 10 x 15 inch rectangle

A big thank you to Penny Willimann, Cole's mom, for donating the unbelievably delicious balsamic vinegar that the kids used for dipping. Some classrooms barely left a single drop of vinegar in their bowl...and others had less favorable reviews. But, the ones who did like it (those after my own heart), REALLY liked the vinegar. It was so much fun to see them try something new.

I had the fortunate chance of visiting Penny's store, Olio, this past Friday night for a private olive oil and vinegar tasting. The event was an auction item won by a St. Clement family from last year...and it was fabulous. In addition to the beautiful cheese and charcuterie platter and the red and white wine, we had the chance to sample aged balsamic vinegars and high quality extra virgin olive oils. In addition, 10% of the proceeds from the party was donated to St. Clement! In case you haven't had the chance to drop by, the store is located at 1223 King Street. Stop by for some summer recipe inspiration! I can't wait to make bruschetta with the White Balsamic Vinegar (the white vinegar keeps your bread from turning brown) and make a fresh new salad with the Black Walnut Balsamic Vinegar (an unbelievably unique flavor). Who wants to come over for dinner?