Dear Meg,

I hope you bake something beautiful this weekend, because I don't have time to. I'm reading a book called The Hysteric's Revenge: French Women Writers at the Fin-de-Siècle, which is *not* as fun as it sounds. Then I'm going to pack. Maybe then I'll share a bottle of wine with myself. Or two.

Make something pretty, and take a picture of it?

Loves!

L

New blog!

This blog has several purposes: 1) to help two friends stay in touch through a common love for FOOD; 2) to share everyday ways to cut out the middleman in the foods we consume every day and lead healthier lives (except for the booze); and 3) to share our inspiring stories of BUTTER and BACON in desserts, and to become better cooks.

I really should be working, but I was so excited that, with no posts, we got one follower (my husband Alex, who has his own blog here), that I had write something. While I'd like to write about how preparing for my orals is making me want to tear out my hair or chew through my own leg, instead I'll talk about the granola I've been making!

Reasons to make your own granola: 1) that shit is expensive; 2) most commercial cereals have LOADS of hidden sodium and ingredients no one can pronounce; 3) for the ones that don't, see reason 1; 4) you get to make it exactly how you want it.

The recipe is extremely approximate; you can put whatever you want in there, in whatever quantities. But, if I were you, I wouldn't keep it on the windowsill. Here's what I put:

1 thing of original or steel cut oats.
About a cup (maybe more?) each of chopped walnuts and pecans
About half a cup of slivered almonds
1/8-1/4 cup of wheat germ
1/8-1/4 cup of ground flax seed (good for women!)
Some brewer's yeast
Just enough molasses (iron!) or make caramel (sugar and water, boiled until it turns brown)
1/8-1/4 cup of course brown sugar (or palm sugar, or honey, or whatever)
Dried cranberries
Raisins

Preheat oven to 350.
Stick all ingredients (except for dried fruits) in a huge bowl and stir until it clumps.
Spread in an even layer on a cookie sheet.
Bake until browned.
Put back in huge bowl; add fruits; stir.
Put in jars.