All posts filed under: snacks

Cocktail of the Week: It’s About Thyme! Plus, Parmesan-Thyme Crackers

Last weekend, I planted four new thyme plants in my little herb garden, so in honor of that, I’m featuring thyme in this week’s cocktail and finger food! This was the first cocktail The Husband and I learned to make together.  Inspired by that year’s winner of the 2011 Signature Spring Cocktail Contest: “No Thyme Like the Present“; it was served as the signature drink at my 40th birthday party (my, how time flies)!  The original recipe is a Hendrick’s Gin cocktail flavored with fresh thyme, subtle hints of cucumber and finished with a float of white grape juice.   The drink was amazing! It was cool and refreshing and perfect for an outdoor summer gathering. What I remember most was that I only had one glass of it and I was the Birthday Girl!  Why do I always get cut off so early?  Well, that was a few years ago, and I think my tolerance has increased a bit since then! My version of the recipe uses more gin, less juice and incorporated the herbs …

Homemade Granola

While preparing for a little hiking adventure, I had a fleeting thought to stop at the grocery store and pick up some trail mix.  While I was shopping, a little lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that there was no need to purchase trail mix when I had everything in my pantry to make it myself.  Then I decided to take it a step further and made some homemade granola. I have slightly adapted this recipe from Alexandra’s Kitchen.  I did have to purchase one item that I didn’t have, shredded coconut, but everything else was in the pantry. Turns out the hardest thing about making homemade granola is the part where you need to leave it undisturbed to cool for one whole hour!   Since I plan on eating this granola as a snack and not breakfast cereal, I used whole almonds instead of sliced almonds. 4 cups rolled oats 2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened) 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup whole almonds 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup …