I've been on the hunt for delicious snacks that aren't too unhealthy. While back home for Thanksgiving and spending some time with the soon-to-be cousin-in-laws, they had passed on a granola recipe that is DEEELISH and easy to make!

The finished product. uhMAZING!

Ingredients:
1  heaping cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2/3 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup flax seeds (optional)
1/4 cup maple syrup/or honey/or other sweetener
3 Tbsp almond butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
1/3 cup dried, tart cherries
1/3 cup raw pecans,(or any other nuts you got) coarsely chopped
(Feel free to add your own granola ingredients like dried cranberries, raisins, walnuts,  sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, carob chips and the list goes on….)
Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl mix coconut flakes, almond flour, cinnamon, salt, chocolate chips, dried tart cherries and pecans or other nuts.
• In a small bowl, mix the wet ingredients: flax seeds, almond butter, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla.  Stir until the mix is smooth and creamy.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold until well combined.
• Scoop out the granola mix spreading thin layer into the baking sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes.  Just watch it and try it for perfect taste.
• Allow the granola to cool for about one minute before moving to plate.
• Enjoy!

The original recipie can be found here: http://marinasprimalcooking.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/1106/

Yikes. Its been DAYS since I've updated! I've been on the move lately. A lame excuse but that's all I have. The Fiancé and I spent the weekend up north visiting family and friends and I attended the  Blogshop video course in San Francisco taught by two lovely ladies, Bri from Designlovefest and Angela of Angela+Ithyle. The course was AMAZING! We spent a few hours on day 1 shooting at a creative workspace called the Makeshift Society and at Patricia's Green, a charming park in Hayes Valley. We were taught the fundamentals of shooting with a DSLR or an iPhone. On the second day, we were taught how to edit the clips in Photoshop. Say whaaaaat? Yes, its true. Version CS6 has the capability to edit video. I had known this fun tidbit about Photoshop CS6 when I bought it but thought I wasn't going to learn anything about video editing...until now!

We were even taught how stop motion video! Here is my first video with media shot at the Makeshift Society in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco. Way cool, colorful and creative place....

I think the part I like the most about creating video is the stop motion video you can create. The most difficult part in my opinion was picking out songs that are Public Domain songs or songs. Most of those songs are from 1921 and older. Otherwise, you have to pay a licensing/royalty fee to use a song and that price tag could vary. Alas, the ENTIRE process is so much fun from staging the scene, picking out the props and looking for music.

I feel like i'm learning graphic design backwards, starting with video as you can see from the blank canvas that is my blog... Maybe I should consider taking their Blogshop for Bloggers class too.

Blogshop is currently holding a contest for all Blogshop video alum. All we have to do is create a video/edit and post. The winner will receive a FREE copy of Photoshop CS6! I'm in it to win it! And without further adeiu, I give you my video fantastic-ness that is called "An Ode to Coffee."
Coffee from Melissa on Vimeo.

Now that I have you totally mesmerized... Here are some stills from last weekend at Blogshop. (Makes you want to sign up and take their classes right now, doesn't it?)

Waiting for class to start.

The lovely rug at the Makeshift Societ	y

Angela talking about angles.

Stop motion and the dancing cupcakes.

Day 2 of Blogshop

The yearbook portion of the workbook.

My goodies.

The loveliest moleskin notebook.

And the drive home...

Yikes. Its been DAYS since I've updated! I've been on the move lately. A lame excuse but that's all I have. The Fiancé and I spent the weekend up north visiting family and friends and I attended the  Blogshop video course in San Francisco taught by two lovely ladies, Bri from Designlovefest and Angela of Angela+Ithyle. The course was AMAZING! We spent a few hours on day 1 shooting at a creative workspace called the Makeshift Society and at Patricia's Green, a charming park in Hayes Valley. We were taught the fundamentals of shooting with a DSLR or an iPhone. On the second day, we were taught how to edit the clips in Photoshop. Say whaaaaat? Yes, its true. Version CS6 has the capability to edit video. I had known this fun tidbit about Photoshop CS6 when I bought it but thought I wasn't going to learn anything about video editing...until now!

We were even taught how stop motion video! Here is my first video with media shot at the Makeshift Society in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco. Way cool, colorful and creative place....

I think the part I like the most about creating video is the stop motion video you can create. The most difficult part in my opinion was picking out songs that are Public Domain songs or songs. Most of those songs are from 1921 and older. Otherwise, you have to pay a licensing/royalty fee to use a song and that price tag could vary. Alas, the ENTIRE process is so much fun from staging the scene, picking out the props and looking for music.

I feel like i'm learning graphic design backwards, starting with video as you can see from the blank canvas that is my blog... Maybe I should consider taking their Blogshop for Bloggers class too.

Blogshop is currently holding a contest for all Blogshop video alum. All we have to do is create a video/edit and post. The winner will receive a FREE copy of Photoshop CS6! I'm in it to win it! And without further adeiu, I give you my video fantastic-ness that is called "An Ode to Coffee." 



Here is my first stop motion clip of a dancing cupcake. 




Now that I have you totally mesmerized... Here are some stills from last weekend at Blogshop. (Makes you want to sign up and take their classes right now, doesn't it?)

Waiting for class to start.

The lovely rug at the Makeshift Societ	y

Angela talking about angles.

Stop motion and the dancing cupcakes.

Day 2 of Blogshop

The yearbook portion of the workbook.

My goodies.

The loveliest moleskin notebook.

And the drive home...