Vegetarian Family

A Peek @ Food We Eat & Things We Do!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Crunchy Fruity Granola

This is a new cookbook of ours by Mollie Katzen. The inside is just as delightful as the cover. It's written with Katzen's creative style featuring cute illustrations, charming kid quotes, special kid recipes with instructional sketches, and insightful tips for adults on how to enjoy cooking with preschoolers. It's awesome.






Each recipe has two sets of instructions - one for the adult and another for the preschooler. Here you see the preschooler's recipe for 'Crunchy Fruity Granola' featuring numbered box steps, each with a basic picture and a few key words or numbers. Perfect for a preschooler to read and even lead the way.






Mollie says, "Take the stress out of measuring liquids by placing the measuring cup in a pie pan. Let your child pour or spoon the oil into the measuring cup. The pie pan will catch the spills." Isn't that a terrific tip? We also used the pie pan for the dry ingredients. Liv really enjoyed the freedom of not having me helping her be careful.





She stirred the dry ingredients in the biggest bowl we have.

Our granola had: almond slices, chopped cashews, raisins, and dried cranberries + blueberries. We followed the recipe exactly, except I used agave nectar instead of honey.






How many of you stir the dry ingredients WHILE you stir the wet?!











I used parchment paper instead of nonstick spray, and it worked fine. Not using honey, I anticipated that the granola wouldn't clump together, and it didn't. What chunks there are, fall apart quickly. Other than missing the convenience of popping nuggets in your mouth, it didn't matter. It tasted great, and the girls Loved it. I was super surprised that Liv actually went bonkers over it. She rarely goes bonkers over food. So, I 'd put it in a cup for her and she'd eat it that way -- on the go.



This is what happens if you forget to bring the cup back inside.












TAH DAH! Our Crunchy Fruity Granola.










28 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vicki, how great is this! I love that idea for the book. I'd like to look through it myself, as I like her style as well.

Now, Liv is super-cute. I love the bandana as a hat then a placemat! She looks adorable cooking away and I remember loving the freedom (and today still) of not having to be careful.

I highly suggest subbing brown rice syrup, since it's sweet and a lot stickier than the agave nectar. Either way, now you have a nice result, anyway.

My most important comment: I think I know the reason why Liv is so cute and talented at stirring wet and dry ingredients at the same time: because her Daddy uses the same stance (arm positions, handling the turn tables and studio gear)! I truly think it may just be in the genes. Cooking from you, "mixing" from Art.

10:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that looks like a great book for kids. maybe i'll get it for my sister...when she has a baby girl! Cherie

4:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi vicki,
thanks for visiting my blog.
I like molly katzen's books too. I have one of their oldest books: moosewood cookbook. a friend of mine gave it to me 10 years ago. she bought it from a secondhand store. so it lived in at least 2 homes before coming to mine.
your daughter is such a beauty!
tijen

5:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's great there are veg-friendly cooking books for cooking with your kids. That is just too precious - your daughter is not only learning cooking skills, she can multi-task too! Impressive :) Awww, the dog picture is cute. The granola looks delicious. Wish I had some!

7:06 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...

so glad you are liking it! our kids love it too, we've made about half of the recipes so far!

7:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I added you to my links.
could you add me too?
thanks.
tijen

7:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That looks like a fantastic cookbook. And yummy granola!
Megan the Vegan

8:05 AM  
Blogger KandC said...

I'm new to the blogging world, so I did a random search in this site and found your blog. I've been vegetarian for 11 years and I love the recipes, links and other great information you have posted. Thanks!

-Kelly

9:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

looks good!

johanna3
http://tropicalvegetarianfamily.blogspot.com/

10:13 AM  
Blogger Taylor said...

Cutest multi-tasking kid ever! Cute book, too.

12:13 PM  
Blogger Regina said...

Looks gooood! The cookbook even better! I love Mollie!

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I have to get this book - it looks darling!

Thanks for the 'demo'! :)

7:13 AM  
Blogger Isil Simsek said...

Liv is just so cute!I also loved the magic monkey bananas ;)

8:28 AM  
Blogger Tanya Kristine said...

what a cute little nose!

i have a little pile that kody created from the treasures in my garbage can...smart little boy!

9:08 AM  
Blogger funwithyourfood said...

haha- don't leave the cup outside!
What a great book and a great idea. A cook book for mom's and their children to use. I like it. Can't wait to see the next recipe

teddy

9:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your dog is so cute...

and of course, so is your daughter.. You are doing such a service to her.. cooking with her.. It's the best way to get kids interested in healthy foods.
.
-melody
melomeals.blogspot.com

1:55 PM  
Blogger village mama said...

am catching up on your blog, and lately your photo essays are rockin' even more than usual!

Will most definitely pick up Salad People.

Your bandana wearing sous chef is adorable - and the fact that she can stir dry ingredients with one hand and wet with the other is phenomenal!!! If she ever writes her own cookbook, the double stirring photo would be great for the back cover.

Have you tried emailing this post to Mollie Katzen, I think she'd be honoured to see what a beautiful impact she has on families that love to cook together.

2:49 PM  
Blogger Dr. Melissa West said...

Vicki, if I've said it once, I'll say it a million times, your girls are absolutely gorgeous. What a delight. I added that book to my wish list at amazon. My daughter who is four would love this book for Christmas.

Fantastic post!

6:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vicki, this is wonderful! How fun that you have a cookbook that's friendly for both of you--and what a fun project! And the final product looks fabulous. Your little girl is quite the chef!

Bob and I just got back from seeing "An Inconvenient Truth"... That was intensely scary. I'm still trying to digest it and figure out what exactly it means for me, but I do know that I'm so thankful the movie was made and I'm going to encourage all my family and friends to see it.

--laura jesser

9:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This book isn't JUST for little kids, right? I want to make some crunchy fruity granola!
-Tania

6:48 AM  
Blogger Joe said...

Too cute - the granola sounds tasty!

6:14 PM  
Blogger Harmonia said...

That book sounds fun! I love the lil ones pictures...the doo-rag is very cute and fashionable for the festivities!

7:33 AM  
Blogger turquoise cro said...

Bad girl Jolie!!! LOL I love granola!!! and Liv looks sooooo cute in her do-rag! She might grow up to be a famous chef!!!

6:46 PM  
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Anonymous Viagra Online said...

I think to teach children to eat granola since they are kids is a good helpful idea so it is really healthy.

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