Healthy Granola

Last weekend after finally getting some snow around here I went snowshoeing a couple days in a row. The first day there was only one trail to follow, the next there were so many loops that we thought we'd either got lost or did the same circle a few times over. I brought some healthy granola mix I had made over the holidays, which I also gave as gifts to friends and family. The granola is really good on its own, in yogurt and recently I saw a cook on the Food Network add M&Ms to it and then sprinkle it over ice cream - yum!

1/2 cup wheat flour

5 cups rolled quick cooking oats

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup bran flakes

1 cup almonds chopped

1 cup walnuts chopped

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup oil

1 cup honey

1 T cinammon

1/2 cup each of raisins and cranraisins (cherry flavored)

add anything you love in granola

Combine all the ingredients and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 30-40 minutes, tossing around every 10 minutes. Watch for it to turn golden brown. The longer it cooks the harder the granola will be and it hardens more as it cools....let cool completely and then store in containers in the fridge or freezer.

Sausage Penne for Camping

Above is all the ingredients you will require. This is perfect for car camping and likely a bit too much to carry for back country (but could alter it to work for that, such as using cured sausage).
We enjoyed this meal the night before our hike to Mt. Colden.

First if only one stove, boil some water for the pasta (I used my whisper light camping stove). Once boiled add 2 cups of pasta to the pot, remove it from the heat and let sit covered for 10-12min until el dente.

Then in another large cooking pot. Cook the jalapenos and garlic in 1T of oil for about 3min. Then add the cut up vegetables. I used mushrooms and zucchini (do not add tomatoes yet or they will get soggy). Cook for about 10 minutes. Then add the sausage (pre-cooked), the pasta (drained) and the tomatoes. Mix all together well. Place lid on and let simmer for 5-8min. Might need to stir occassionally so not to burn (those camping stoves can sometimes be tricky).

Voila Sausage & Penne

Spoon heaping full into plate.

Grate some cheese on top and add chili flakes if you have them. Enjoy!

This provided us with great energy for our next day hike to Mount Colden.