Ingredient: honey (Manuka is best)

Not Too Sweet Granola

Not Too Sweet Granola

I have a salt tooth. Even as a little kid, I was on the fence about candy. Sure, I’ll eat a little dessert here and there, but it’s not a driving force. At one of my first jobs out of college my office mates wanted to throw me a birthday party. I kindly requested that they didn’t buy a cake, but instead encouraged them to get a round of brie and pop a few candles on top. They did and it was perfect! Today I’m mostly “planty,” (my husband’s new perfect descriptor versus the rather dull “plant-based”) so I’d skip the brie, but maybe instead ask for a container of cashew cheese. Most granolas on the market are way too sweet for me, so I came up with this recipe that I think is just about perfect. Sometimes I have all the nuts and seeds listed below, but sometimes not — it’s a very flexible recipe. Often I’ll swap out some for things like ground chia (if you don’t grind the chia, the pesky little seeds embed themselves in your teeth) or hemp seeds. However, if you like things a little sweeter, just add more honey. Or if you prefer a richer, denser version, increase the oil. By the way, nuts and seeds go rancid pretty quickly, so I keep a small amount of the granola in a glass jar on my counter, but freeze the rest to keep it fresh.

A Mug of Love

A Mug of Love

When I lived in Dublin in college my host-mom always made this when anyone had even a hint of a cough or tickle in their throat. The only difference is she made it with a shot of whiskey. And not that I’m opposed to that addition, but I’m pretty sure pediatricians frown on giving booze to toddlers, which is when I started making my lemon honey tea on a regular basis. Plus, why would you waste good whiskey on a kid, right? Anyways, this is my first line defense when anyone comes down with a sniffle, a slightly swollen throat or just needs a warm mug of pure love.