Snow day!

Well, it's official. Winter has arrived in Chicagoland! Yesterday was a snow day, so no preschool for the big boys. They spent the afternoon outside, happily shoveling the walk and knocking icicles off of the bottom of the mini-van. Oh, to be 4 ½ again!

I love just being at home when it’s cold and snowy. And if I can’t curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee, a rare event in my life these days, I’m in the kitchen baking. Here’s a favorite wintertime recipe. Enjoy!

Cranberry-Almond Granola
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4 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a large bowl mix the oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon.

In a small saucepan warm the oil and honey. Carefully stir in the vanilla (be careful because it bubbles up).

Pour liquid over oat mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon; finish mixing by hand if needed.

Spread granola in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

Bake 40 minutes stirring carefully every 10 minutes. (I would probably bake a few less minutes next time)

Cool on pan on a rack.

Stir in cranberries.

Store in airtight container. Will keep 1 week at room temperature or 3 months in freezer.