Granola that May Send You to Rehab

Ok, get ready to never go back to store bought granola. No, I'm telling you you won't be able to simply go to the grocery store and pick up a box after you try this. What? You say it's so much easier. Well, maybe but you can make a ton of this stuff and freeze it if you want. It's cheaper, probably healthier, and I'm telling you right now it does not compare to anything you can buy at the store. This stuff is ridiculously good. Addicting even.

Yes, granola can be addicting when it tastes like this! You may have to go to rehab.

Granola Goodness

Ingredients:

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 cup light brown sugar (for a healthier version 1 1/2-2 cups honey)

1 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups toasted oats

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat over to 325 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil or wax paper. Coat with cooking spray.

Whisk egg and egg white in a large mixing bowl. Mix in remaining ingredients. Spread evenly in prepared baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Break up granola into clusters and serve over yogurt with fruit or if you're like me eat it by the handfuls!

Tip: If you double or triple this recipe (which I recommend 'cause this stuff disappears fast) bake an extra 5-7 minutes.

Here's the chorus line of goodness.

Whisk the egg.

If you have little helpers I highly recommend putting them to work.

Then add the brown sugar.

If you wanna go the healthier route, use honey, but you will want to double the amount compared to the sugar.

Honestly, I would try it with the brown sugar first time you make it.

You don't want to be too healthy do you?

I hate to say it, but it's just better with the sugar.

Add the oil.

A little bit of salt.

Vanilla.

The real stuff.

Amen.

Stir some to incorporate.

Measure out your pecans.

Chop 'em up.

Chop 'em real good.

Add the nuts and the flour.

Pour in those oats.

Mix in the cranberries.

Stir really well.

No need to go to the gym after this; your biceps will already get enough of a workout in.

Line your baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray.

Really coat it good, or you may have to wrestle the granola off the foil and pan, which is not a pretty sight.

Believe me.

Pour the granola on the prepared baking sheet.

Spread evenly.

Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Cook to sweet perfection.

Serve.

I can never resist!

Oh my goodness!

Is there a rehab you recommend?

Happy Birthday Suit

In honor of my husband's 29th birthday I made him his favorite; chocolate on chocolate. Typically I would make him brownies, which tend to be his number one request, but I think his favorite brownies have quickly become a thing of the past ever since I sang him Happy Birthday over The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever. Thanks to The Pioneer Woman I was able to give Matt the perfect birthday present wrapped in a layer of chocolaty ridiculousness. Even if there's not a reason to celebrate, make this cake and it will give you a reason to.

This cake seriously (as the name states) is the best dang chocolate sheet cake you've ever had. It's rich and melts in your mouth. It's moist and smooth. It also goes perfect with a tall glass of cold milk, which I suggest you have on hand. It's also perfect for the Pennyless since it's made with practically all staples. It's also super healthy ( Yeah right! Bob and Jillian would not approve of this at all) and super easy, no really, it is! Well, it was super easy until I ended up making chocolate cupcakes first instead of the actual cake, and I had to strip down to my intimates in the middle of the kitchen (more on that later). No I wasn't making a video for my husbands birthday wearing only my birthday suit (I told you more on that later; get your head out of the gutter!).

Here's the chorus line.

Melt the butter.

Add the chocolatey goodness.

Mix real good.

Add the boiling water. Don't know why; you'll have to ask Ree.

Mix the dry ingredients.

Add the chocolate mixture to the dry and gently stir to cool.

Now it's time to mix the buttermilk.

Add your vanilla. Don't you dare use that yucky immitation stuff.

Add the baking soda.

Add the whisked eggs.

Mix well.

Add to bowl with batter mixture.

You only have to dirty up one mixing bowl!

Mix really well.

Grease your sheet with the wrapping from the butter.

This is definately the Pennyless way.

Add the yumminess to your greased baking sheet.

Just please don't let this happen to you!

You don't want to know what I said when that baking sheet dropped out of my hand, onto the floor, and all over the front of my clothes.

I had to completely strip down because of the mess that was made!

Mad does not begin to describe what I was feeling.

But then Simms and I decided to eat some of the batter and make cupcakes with what was left.

Yes, that smear on the floor that looks like it's from a finger; is exactly that! Judge me if you want, but I just really didn't care at that point to let Simms do just that. I know gross, but he thought it was awesome! And it made me laugh!

So I started feeling a little better, and that's when I decided to get out of my chocolate drenched clothes.

On a positive note: I did smell ever so good for the rest of the day.

So then it was time to put on some sweats and wipe the chocolate off my face to make the frosting!

Melt the butter. Yes, more butter, it will be okay it's a special occasion.

Add the chocolate.

Add all that sweet powdered sugar.

Mix well.

Add vanilla. Remember, the real stuff.

Add the milk.

Measure out your pecans.

Chop.

Chop. Chop.

Stir in the nuts.

You're a nut.

No you are!

Beautiful!

Let it boil for a few seconds.

Here's the cake round two!

Cooked at 350 degrees for only 2o minutes.

So easy. As long as you don't drop it all on the floor.

Pour on that delicious icing on the warm cake.

Pour over as evenly as possible and it will do most of the work itself.

Here's the happy mistake!

I cooked these for 25 minutes.

I used the leftover frosting.

Seriously The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever!

So good!

Take a bite and wash it down with a glass of ice cold milk.