MAPLE DIJON VINAIGRETTE

  

This salad dressing is easy, fast, and delicious!  Enjoy!!

Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

1/2 cup good quality olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 T maple syrup
2 t Dijon mustard
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
Whisk together, refrigerate leftovers

Glazed nuts

2 cups  chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds (or a mixture is fine!)
1 T butter or margarine
1 T sugar

Melt butter over low heat in a small skillet, add nuts.  Cook 3-4 minutes until nuts are toasted, stir occasionally.  Add sugar and heat until nuts are glazed, 1-2 minutes.  Store leftovers in a tightly covered container.

Here's what I used for the salad pictured:

Spinach, (use your favorite greens)
Crumbled bleu cheese (feta would be great)
Sliced apple with skin (pears would be good)
Glazed nuts

So many other ingredients you could add in, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, lean protein, eggs.......

EASY GRANOLA

Today I am posting a super-easy recipe for granola.  It is no fail and can be adjusted to fit your personal taste.  I like this recipe because it is preservative free, low fat, a great source of whole grains and stores really well. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled and ingredients may be modified or omitted. I have been omitting the honey and substituting water to save a few calories; works great!

Here is what you will need:

 4 cups oats (I like old-fashioned)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups nuts—your choice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey or 2 T water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups dried fruit, coconut, etc.

Toss oats, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and nuts together.  Mix oil, honey or water and vanilla and drizzle over oat mixture.  Stir well to blend ingredients.
Spread mixture on a rimmed pan lined with parchment paper or foil that has been lightly oiled.  Bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes.  You may want a little more time depending on your personal preference.  Stir halfway during baking time.  Remove from oven and toss in fruit.

Store in an airtight container; may be stored in the freezer.