3 Ways to granola (and only one involves a spoon)...here's to the weekend
Granola 3 ways — the crunchy, cozy trio you didn’t know you needed, plus a Seattle trip recap
Hi Friends,
Let’s talk granola.
Not the dry, flavorless kind that lurks in the back of your pantry. I’m talking golden, just-sweet-enough, snack-it-straight-from-the-pan granola. The kind that makes your kitchen smell like a dream and your yogurt bowl feel fancy.
This week, I’m sharing three granola recipes, all made with simple pantry ingredients and a few easy tweaks. Each one gives you that toasty oat-and-nut magic in a different form — pick your favorite or make all three and snack like a pro.
Here’s what’s on the (breakfast/snack/dessert) menu:
1. Classic Everyday Granola
A base recipe that’s endlessly adaptable. Think oats, maple syrup or honey, coconut oil, and a pinch of salt. Add your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. Bake it low and slow for clusters galore. I’ve included 2 of my favorite flavor combinations in the post!
2. Granola Bark
Like if granola and brittle had a baby, kinda. Press the granola flat and bake until crispy, then break it into shards. Perfect for snacking, gifting, or sneaking from the counter every time you walk by. It’s seriously addicting.
3. Granola Bars
Soft, satisfying, and way better than anything in a wrapper. These almond butter date pepita bars are scrumptious!!
Whether you eat it by the handful, with yogurt, or tucked into a lunchbox, granola’s got range! Which one will you make first?
On the blog this week
If you’ve been craving a reset, this green juice is your new go-to. It’s crisp, refreshing, and packed with immune-boosting ingredients like parsley, lemon, apples, and Manuka honey—no juicer required! I played around with the proportions to mimic the fancy juices I’ve had at cafes, and then on a trip to Seattle, I spotted my exact green juice on a coffee shop menu. I ordered it to compare—and it tasted just like mine. Safe to say: this recipe is a keeper. Just blend, strain, and pour over ice. The kids love it too!
The weekly love list includes new outfits for Ryan Gooseling, our porch goose and my latest Sephora haul.
I shared Everything I Read and Listened to in March 2025 which included 10 books, 5 of which were 5-star reviews!
Personal stories - Seattle trip recap
We took a trip to Seattle—airport travel with kids, hills, rain, and all—and somehow lived to tell the tale (despite the stomach bug trying to take me out). The adventure began with Sam needing a diaper change mid-flight, and while the airplane bathroom had a tiny pull-down changing table that was clearly designed for newborns (or guinea pigs?), we managed it. Thank you, hard poop ball, for making an appearance at just the right time.
Seattle is vertical. Like, calves-burning, quads-activated, "wait, we’re walking UP again?" vertical. The rental house was basically a mini tower—bedroom up three flights of stairs, little notes posted on every surface (like a passive-aggressive scavenger hunt), but it had a great coffee station and was just a few steps from two playgrounds and not far from the Fremont Troll. Also: dedicated parking! A luxury when cars are parked on every hill in Seattle like gravity just doesn’t apply here.
We hit the Public Market (long lines, more art than food), ate some classic Seattle chicken teriyaki, and yes—dragged our terrified-of-heights selves (me and Freddie) up the Space Needle. It was overpriced and super touristy and also absolutely worth it. Freddie had to be bribed, I had to pop another charcoal tablet (thanks, stomach bug), but wow, the views. Even better? The whale cruise I almost skipped because of the $105-per-person price tag. But it ended up being magic—actual whales, happy kids, and the whole boat smelled like someone's grandma’s blueberry buckle (the buckle was random and delicious). Plus, the coffee was diner-quality perfection.
We left on a rainy Seattle morning—perfect timing, really. Tired, sore, slightly traumatized, but full of memories, coffee, and blueberry buckle. 10/10 would do it again... after a very long nap.
Giveaway
For the March giveaway the winner is Cheri! Just message me to claim your prize!
For the April giveaway! Simply comment on this sheet pan chicken sweet potatoes and broccoli dish and tell me what your favorite baked chicken is!
One winner gets a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks or Amazon, winners choice.
How are you doing? I always love hearing from you. Just hit reply and let me know.
~Phi
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