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My friend Kat gave me some savory granola. I really liked it – the little jar she

gave me got nibbled to death without being added to anything. I usually eat it with plain  3%+ yoghurt, even though a bunch usually still gets nibbled right off the cookie sheet (careful, it’s hot). Kat gave me the recipe. I have since tweaked it some more, but I still call it Kat’s Meow.

Ingredients

• Dry mix:
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup rye flakes
  • 1/2 cup buckwheat
  • 1 cup pecan pieces
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cup hulled sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper (to taste)
  • 2-4 tbsp dried rosemary (to taste, but this is what really makes this stuff smell good!)
  • 1-2 tbsp dried thyme (to taste)
• Wet mix
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2-4tbsp grainy mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Preparation

• pre-heat oven to 350F / 180C
• combine dry ingredients in a fairly large bowl, and wet ones in a smaller one (the oil and mustard are kind of hard to combine, I use a tiny little whisk)
• pour the wet mix over the dry mix and stir really well
• spread the granola on a cookie sheet (use one with raised edges; you really don’t need to grease it or add parchment paper or anything, usually a plain wash without scrubbing gets it cleaned up)
• bake for 15-20 minutes; longer gets it a bit crunchier but you start to lose some of the flavour
• once it has cooled completely, if there is any left, you can store it in a jar with a well-fitting lid

Found a tasty cheese today, Port Salut Meule. Very soft and creamy, and mild yet tasty. I’d definitely buy it again.

We discovered that a Persian Restaurant nearby a few weeks ago. When we tried it out we asked the proprietor what dishes he would recommend. He suggested  several dishes, including Fesenjoon, a stew with a walnut and pomegranade sauce. He recommended we eat that one last, because it has so much flavour and would cover up the others. He was right. I have since gone back and had it again.