Today I made some granola. I have made this recipe before, and loved it. It’s a
chocolate granola, so that will tell you right there just how delicious it is.
I had a hankering for this granola, and thought I probably had all of the ingredients.
After digging through my loose recipes in the cupboard, I finally found it and started compiling ingredients.
I realized I didn’t have the right kind of nuts that it called for. So I decided to use sliced almonds and walnuts instead of smoked almonds. I think that the last time I made this recipe, I used pecans…
Though the recipe didn’t call for it, I added some coconut, because I had it on hand and I LOVE coconut in granola.
I also decided to add some craisins. Chocolate and craisins would taste great together, right?
And a little extra honey wouldn’t do any harm, either.
After mixing all of the ingredients, I realized that I had followed only about half of the recipe. It had turned into a Carson Creation, with only the basics from the actual recipe. And you know, the last time I made granola I made it a little different from the recipe, as well. But not the same as today.
And I do this a lot in cooking. Do you? Decide to add a little here, or substitute
something else there? (Substituting has become huge in my house, because I almost always am missing one specific ingredient on the list. Lack of planning? Or intuitive replacement?!)
This made me think about life. There are so many ways to get to a great outcome. And each person can add their own flair of creativity to their recipe of life. Some people use walnuts instead almonds, because it’s what they have. And you know what—they taste great!
And sometimes, it doesn’t matter how amazing the ingredients sound that go together in one recipe, or how often you’ve made the recipe before—it might not
turn out. Even though the chocolate called for in this granola sounds amazing, I put a little too much in, and lost a lot of the taste of the other ingredients to chocolate. Also, I have made granola many times before—but today, I burned it.
You can do so many little things to a recipe to make it better, but you can also do so many little things to a recipe to ruin it!
Fortunately, adding the craisins and some fresh (uncooked) coconut to my granola evened out the burned and over-chocolaty taste. And now the bit of burned is How about that? My mistake created an interesting flavor. Different, and not what I was expecting, but still delicious. Although I did learn that using foil instead of actually adding a kind of smoky taste that I really like. parchment paper will make it cook faster—and burn faster, too.
chocolate granola, so that will tell you right there just how delicious it is.
I had a hankering for this granola, and thought I probably had all of the ingredients.
After digging through my loose recipes in the cupboard, I finally found it and started compiling ingredients.
I realized I didn’t have the right kind of nuts that it called for. So I decided to use sliced almonds and walnuts instead of smoked almonds. I think that the last time I made this recipe, I used pecans…
Though the recipe didn’t call for it, I added some coconut, because I had it on hand and I LOVE coconut in granola.
I also decided to add some craisins. Chocolate and craisins would taste great together, right?
And a little extra honey wouldn’t do any harm, either.
After mixing all of the ingredients, I realized that I had followed only about half of the recipe. It had turned into a Carson Creation, with only the basics from the actual recipe. And you know, the last time I made granola I made it a little different from the recipe, as well. But not the same as today.
And I do this a lot in cooking. Do you? Decide to add a little here, or substitute
something else there? (Substituting has become huge in my house, because I almost always am missing one specific ingredient on the list. Lack of planning? Or intuitive replacement?!)
This made me think about life. There are so many ways to get to a great outcome. And each person can add their own flair of creativity to their recipe of life. Some people use walnuts instead almonds, because it’s what they have. And you know what—they taste great!
And sometimes, it doesn’t matter how amazing the ingredients sound that go together in one recipe, or how often you’ve made the recipe before—it might not
turn out. Even though the chocolate called for in this granola sounds amazing, I put a little too much in, and lost a lot of the taste of the other ingredients to chocolate. Also, I have made granola many times before—but today, I burned it.
You can do so many little things to a recipe to make it better, but you can also do so many little things to a recipe to ruin it!
Fortunately, adding the craisins and some fresh (uncooked) coconut to my granola evened out the burned and over-chocolaty taste. And now the bit of burned is How about that? My mistake created an interesting flavor. Different, and not what I was expecting, but still delicious. Although I did learn that using foil instead of actually adding a kind of smoky taste that I really like. parchment paper will make it cook faster—and burn faster, too.
And of course, I can always start over from scratch. There is always the option to try again.
If I make a mistake (I mean other than in cooking), I can fix it with a little help from the Lord. He can help me find a way to make it better, and even help me appreciate what my mistakes have added to my character. I have learned that with every mistake I repent of, I gain compassion and understanding. He can even help me have the courage to completely throw out a bad habit and start afresh.
If I make a mistake (I mean other than in cooking), I can fix it with a little help from the Lord. He can help me find a way to make it better, and even help me appreciate what my mistakes have added to my character. I have learned that with every mistake I repent of, I gain compassion and understanding. He can even help me have the courage to completely throw out a bad habit and start afresh.
And you know, it might be a good idea to share what I have learned while making mistakes and asking the Lord to help me fix them. I may be able to help someone else feel less alone, or avoid the same mistake altogether.
Do you ever read reviews for recipes when you are getting them online? After many trials and errors, I realized that was a good idea. To get hints about what will help or hinder the recipe from those who have already made the recipe. If I add what I learned about using foil vs. parchment and adding too much chocolate, someone else might avoid a burned and over-chocolaty batch of granola.
It takes courage to try the same recipe again after learning from yours and others’ mistakes. But that is what creates perfect recipes, and really good cooks.
So here is my advice (at least, for chocolate granola :D )
Do you ever read reviews for recipes when you are getting them online? After many trials and errors, I realized that was a good idea. To get hints about what will help or hinder the recipe from those who have already made the recipe. If I add what I learned about using foil vs. parchment and adding too much chocolate, someone else might avoid a burned and over-chocolaty batch of granola.
It takes courage to try the same recipe again after learning from yours and others’ mistakes. But that is what creates perfect recipes, and really good cooks.
So here is my advice (at least, for chocolate granola :D )
The Carson Version of Chocolate Granola
½ cup (or a little more) of almonds, walnuts, or pecans (or a mixture)
½ cup shredded coconut (I like the sweetened kind in the baking isle)
2.5 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
½ cup (or a little more) of almonds, walnuts, or pecans (or a mixture)
½ cup shredded coconut (I like the sweetened kind in the baking isle)
2.5 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
½ cup craisins or dried cherries
Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper (don’t use foil—trust me). Put oats, nuts, and coconut on baking sheet and toss.
Mix the oil and honey together, then drizzle over ingredients on baking sheet, and toss to combine. Bake in oven for 16-20 minutes until brown, tossing occasionally. When done, put hot granola in a bowl and add the chocolate chips. Don’t do more than ½ cup, or it will be too chocolaty (unless you added a significant amount of the other ingredients over what the recipe calls for)! You want to do it while it’s hot—the melting chocolate creates clusters of granola. Add the craisins and mix all together. Store in airtight container. Tastes really good on vanilla ice cream :D
So, how are you going to tweak this recipe?
Mix the oil and honey together, then drizzle over ingredients on baking sheet, and toss to combine. Bake in oven for 16-20 minutes until brown, tossing occasionally. When done, put hot granola in a bowl and add the chocolate chips. Don’t do more than ½ cup, or it will be too chocolaty (unless you added a significant amount of the other ingredients over what the recipe calls for)! You want to do it while it’s hot—the melting chocolate creates clusters of granola. Add the craisins and mix all together. Store in airtight container. Tastes really good on vanilla ice cream :D
So, how are you going to tweak this recipe?
-Carson
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