My New Favorite Granola Recipe

I tried olive oil in my granola for the first time and I’m sold for life! This simple homemade granola is going to be your new favorite too! And you can totally add your favorite mix-ins!

I am OBSESSED with granola, but as I only buy coconut oil for granola and otherwise it sits stagnant in my pantry, I started testing out other options. With time I fell in love with olive oil and upon a quick google search discovered I wasn’t the only one. I eventually adapted my original strawberry almond granola with fOOD 52’s recipe and it has been the best granola I’ve not only made, but eaten!

Ingredients for the Best Granola

A good granola only needs a few ingredients and it’s so customizable! Here is the list of ingredients:

• Oats – old fashioned oats work best, they give the granola structure and are also heart-healthy
  • If you want gluten free granola, be sure the oats are gluten free.
• Pumpkin Seeds – add a great texture to the granola and are a rich source of protein, vitamins and minerals
• Almonds – adds protein and healthy fat
• Maple Syrup – natural sweetener, honey works great too
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the fat that holds the granola together and gives it that awesome crunch
• Brown Sugar – adds the perfect about of sweetness and flavor
• Kosher Salt – don’t skip this, it enhances all the flavors

The measurements for each ingredients are listed in the recipe card below. See the section below on options for other mix-ins.

How to Make Homemade Granola

Another spectacular thing about granola, aside from it being delicious, is that it’s super easy to make:

1. Preheat the oven and prep a baking sheet.
2. Stir all the ingredients together in a large bowl and spread on baking sheet.
3. Bake, stir and bake some more.
4. Let it cool completely before breaking it up and storing.

Caramel Popcorn

Caramel popcorn is the most classic sweet and salty snack there is! This recipe is so easy and addicting. Family movie night just got even better!

When I was a kid we had an old air popper that had a tray on top that melted the butter and allowed it to drip onto the popcorn while you were making it. It was so much fun to sit on the counter and watch those little seeds explode.  

When I got married I discovered that my husband still had an air popper.  His didn’t have the fancy butter tray, but that’s ok. On extra special occasions we got to eat caramel popcorn! It didn’t occur to me that kids now days probably haven’t seen air poppers until we pulled ours out to make some caramel popcorn last night. Our little one was so excited!

What Ingredients Do You Need for Caramel Popcorn?

You basically just need popcorn and then ingredients for making homemade caramel. Here is your ingredients list:

• Popcorn
• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Light Corn Syrup
• Vanilla
• Salt
• Baking Soda

The measurements for each can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Homemade Caramel Popcorn

This recipe is so simple! It has become a favorite of my children to make on Friday nights. Here are the basic steps:

1. Preheat your oven.
2. Make the popcorn
3. Make the caramel on the stove top.
4. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir to combine.
5. Bake.
6. Let cool and devour!

Why Do You Bake Caramel Corn?

Baking caramel popcorn makes the caramel crisp up and get th

Jello Popcorn

Jello in popcorn? You only need 4 simple ingredients for this fun snack! Jello popcorn is our family’s latest obsession and you can use any flavor Jello you like best!

I was totally and completely obsessed with Jello growing up and this would have been one more amazing way for me to enjoy it but the truth is, I just learned about it a few months ago. Our neighbors, Rod and Tawya, totally hooked us up with a batch one weekend and I’ve been utterly obsessed ever since. 

I honestly can’t even explain this treat to you. It’s better than caramel popcorn IMHO, and it’s also easier than caramel popcorn so it’s a huge win at our house. The kids love how bright and gooey it is and it has started all sorts of kid conversations about what else we should take from classic to new and wild.

So far Claire has requested Muddy Buddies Rice Krispies Treats. 

Thoughts? Should we try it out?

Ingredients for Jello Popcorn

I mentioned that you only need 4 ingredients for this recipe. So simple! Here they are:

• Jello (3oz)
• Butter (unsalted)
• Mini Marshmallows
• Popcorn

Do you have them in the pantry already?? I’ve started to just buy mini mallows every time I grocery shop. The measurements for each can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Chorizo Dip Queso Fundido [+ Video]

Every year, this queso fundido recipe grows even more popular on our site. This chorizo dip is the best dip you’ll ever make and is our favorite appetizer!

Whether you are looking for an irresistible dip for gameday or a new appetizer for New Years Eve, this recipe is a must! It is creamy, flavorful and the chorizo adds the most delicious flavor and heat.

What is Queso Fundido?

It is a melted cheese dip, kind of like a fondue.

Queso Fundido Ingredients

This Mexican queso dip recipe uses just five ingredients. How amazing is that? Here’s everything we used in this spicy chorizo dip: 

• Shredded Mozzarella 
• Shredded Queso Quesadilla Cheese
• Garlic 
• Chorizo
• Tortilla Chips (for serving)

The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Queso Fundido 

Just empty half the package of chorizo into a skillet with one minced garlic clove and cook for about 5 minutes.

Easy, right? And because of the kinds of cheese that we use they literally melt down perfectly just like a dip. It’s awesome! Just use the fine grater for cheese and grate mozzarella and queso quesadilla. Pile it up in a ceramic dish or cast iron skillet and place it in the oven.

Once it’s all melty, scoop the chorizo onto the top and serve immediately. And by serve, I mean hide in the corner and stuff as much as you can into your face before your family discovers you and wants some.

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