Granola

1 1/4 c. nuts (pecans, walnuts, peanuts), broken pieces
3 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 c. almonds, halves or slivers
1/4 c. sunflower seeds

1/3 c. canola oil
1/4 c. real maple syrup
1/4 c. honey

1/2 cup raisins, dried cranberries, or other dried fruit (optional)

Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix oats, nuts, seeds, and coconut together in large bowl.

Heat maple syrup, honey, and oil in small saucepan, whisking occasionally until warm.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients; stir with spatula until mixture is thoroughly coated. Turn mixture onto an 11-by-7-inch jelly roll pan, spreading mixture in an even layer.

Bake, stirring and respreading mixture into an even layer every 5-10 minutes, until granola is golden brown. Immediately turn granola onto another jelly roll pan to stop cooking process.

Stir in dried fruit if desired, then spread granola evenly in pan; set on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Loosen dried granola with a spatula; store in airtight container.

*You can use whatever combination of nuts and seeds you like: pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, sesame seeds, etc. Just try to keep the amount of dry ingredients to 5 1/2 c. or the syrup mixture won't provide a good coverage.

*I like to mix 1/4 c. granola with 1 heaping Tbsp. of plain, nonfat yogurt for breakfast.

Mandarin Chicken Salad

3 c. fresh spinach leaves
1/4 c. slivered almonds
1/3 c. red bell pepper, diced
1/4 c. red onion, diced
1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
3 seasoned, grilled chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 c. Asian salad dressing

In a large bowl, gently mix spinach, almonds, bell pepper, onion, and oranges.

In a separate bowl, combine chicken and salad dressing. Pour over salad mixture and gently toss.

Cranberry Walnut Bread

When I'm ready for some Jacked-Up Turkey Sandwiches, I make a loaf of this delicious bread in my bread machine. Make the necessary adjustments for making some to bake in the oven.

8 1/2 oz. warm water (1 c. + 1 Tbsp.)
2 1/2 c. bread flour
2 Tbsp. dry milk
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 1/2 tsp. bread machine/fast rise yeast (or 2 tsp. active dry yeast)
3/4 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Add warm water to pan. Add bread flour, dry milk, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to pan; tap to settle dry ingredients. Place butter into corners of pan. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add yeast. Lock pan into bread maker and being mixing.

When alert sounds, add cranberries and walnuts.

When done, remove bread from pan and cool on rack. Slice after cooling.