Happy Birthday Dr. Sue

Dr. Sue celebrated her birthday with a home cooked meal prepared by her family.

The Menu

Signature Cocktail - Bees Knees
Appetizers
Carrot and Celery Sticks
White Bean Dip
Baguette
Bright Green and Black Olives
Goat Cheese Tart

Main Course
Poulet Provencale (with tomoatoes, onions, fennel, turnip, capers, olives)
Rustic Bread
Spinach Salad with crasins, pecans and blue cheese
Wine: Reserve de L'Estey Medoc 2003

Dessert
Lemon Cake that read "Happy Birthday Dr. Sue!"
Decaf Coffee
Armagnac

Photo is of my almost finished Bees Knees....made with gin, lavender infused honey, lemon juice...and my daughter's special addition, a dried rosebud floating on top. A new birthday request to my family - let's repeat this event each year...perhaps even once a month. Thank you to all.

To my readers: May the inspiration of home cooking grow and thrive. May your homes be blessed by the honeybees knees!

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE ECONOMY?
DIY Granola!


I'm one of the lucky ones. Dr. Sue's worldly skills have enabled me to keep earning a living..for the moment. But these are scary times, and sad times too because so many family and friends have lost their jobs, their savings or their homes. We're all tired and trying our best to support one another. Thankfully we're also celebrating our new president and sticking with hope.

Hard economic times have made me take a second look at what I buy that I could just as easily make. Today's idea is granola. Here's how I made it:


DIY Granola

Ingredients:
4 - 5 cups rolled oats (I was going to use 4 cups but I decided to use the last of the box of oats..at that point measurement went out the window but precision isn't a necessary part of granola success)
1 cup sliced almonds (the kind with the almond skin still on)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup safflower oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz package dried fruit (I used a mixture of raisins, cranberries, cherries and blueberries)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350

Mix oats, almonds, sesame seeds, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
Combine oil and honey. Heat the mixture but do not boil. Microwave for about 1 minute or heat on the stove in a small pan. Pour oil/honey into the oat mixture and stir to coat all the oats.

Spread the mixture in one layer on a cookie sheet with sides. Either grease the pan or better yet, put your Silpat baking mat** on the bottom. Bake for about 20 minutes without stirring. The mixture should be golden brown with slight crisping on the edge. Undercooked is better than burnt. Cool in the pan. The granola will get crisper as it cools. When cool sprinkle the dried fruit on top. Gently mix. Keep some big chunks of granola if you can. Store in an air tight container.

**Note: The Silpat Baking Mat may be the most essential kitchen tool that you don't own. If you have a Silpat, read no further. You know just what I'm talking about. Put the Silpat on the bottom of your cookie sheet. When you bake cookies, biscuits, or granola there is no need to grease the pan. The Silplat costs about $18. Even in this economy, it's a good investment.