EGG MonkeyMUFFIN (a 2 banana difficulty level)

Earlier this year a buddy of mine was making these and I thought it was pretty cool! 12 eggs in a dozen & 12 spots in a muffin tin, seems a bit pre-destined if you ask me. Super simple to make & you can decide what fixin's to add...let's get started...

WHAT YOU NEED:
12 Eggs
12 English Muffins
Kosher Salt to taste
Black Pepper (freshly ground)
1 Roma Tomato (thinly sliced, optional)
1 Jalapeno Pepper (thinly sliced, optional)
4 T Parmesan Cheese (grated, optional)

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
Non-stick Muffin Tin
Dinner Fork
Oven
Toaster

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Pre-Heat Oven to 350 degrees
2. Crack eggs & add 1 per spot in a muffin tin.
3. Add sliced tomato & pepper (or bacon or spinach or mushrooms or...)
4. Salt & Pepper to taste

5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Add cheese (if desired)

7. Rotate front to back & back 10 more minutes or until egg is cooked to your desired level.

8. Depending on the toaster capacity, start toasting the English Muffins during the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
9. Make you Egg MonkeyMuffin & enjoy!

This is a nice party trick when you have to make breakfast for a full house!

Be careful not to overbake the eggs as they become a bit rubbery. I like to make a dozen on the weekend & then eat them as snack or as a quick breakfast during the week.

Until next time...your favorite neighbor-web monkey!

BLOSSOM'S BnB GRANOLA (a 2 banana difficulty level)

Blossom's BnB Granola with Greek Yogurt

Oh my, it's been over a month since I last posted!  May has been busy and if I don't post today I will be shut out this month!  I had grand aspirations to post about homemade Mac and Cheese a few weeks ago, but my 'Monkey Mac n' Cheese' did not meet quality control.  Maybe later this year I will make another run at Mac n' Cheese.

I've also been involved in a Doctoral program which is eating into my leisure time.  The program took me up to Missoula, MT this month for a conference/vacation.  I describe it as the vacation interrupted by my conference.  The conference was most excellent.  While in Missoula, MT we stayed at Blossom's BnB. 

https://www.blossomsbnb.com/

Blossom is a wonderful hostess so if you ever get a chance to visit Missoula, I highly recommend her BnB.  Two of the mornings I was there, I had to leave bright in early for my conference.  I missed the main breakfast, but I was able to eat my fair share of 'Blossom's BnB Granola.'  Blossom was kind enough to share the recipe and gave me permission to post it on this site.

So, today 'this monkey' will show you how to make 'Blossom's BnB Granola'

WHAT YOU NEED:
4 c Rolled Oats (organic & gluten free, if you desire)
1 c Sliced Raw Almonds
1 c Sunflower Seeds
1 c Chopped Pecans
2 c Grated Coconut
1/2 c Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 c Sesame Seeds

1/2 c Honey
1/2 c Vegetable Oil
1 t Vanilla

1 c Dried Cherries
1 c Raisins

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
1 Large Bowl
1 Spoon
2 Cookie Sheets
Parchment Paper
Glass/Pyrex Bowl
Cooling Rack

**This makes quite a bit (roughly 12 c Granola) so 1/2 or double it as needed**

WHAT YOU DO:
1.  Pre Heat Oven to 350 deg
2.  Mix the Oats, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Pecans, Coconut, Pumpkin Seeds, & Sesame Seeds together in a large Bowl.

3.  Warm the Honey, Oil, & Vanilla in the Glass Bowl in Microwave (about 60-90 sec depending on the power of the Microwave.  This can bubble over, so beware.  I speak from experience!)  Stir well.

For Fellow nerds, please note the different density of the liquids! (Pre stirring)

4.  Pour about 1/2 of the well stirred Honey-Oil-Vanilla mixture over the Oats-Seeds-Nuts that are in the Large Bowl & Stir Well.  Then pour the rest of the liquid over the Oats etc & stir well again.

5.  Divide the unbaked "granola" between the 2 cookie sheets lined with Parchment Paper.

6.  Place on Middle Rack in Oven for 20-30 min until Golden Brown.  Be sure to stir every 5-7 min. otherwise the edges & bottom will burn.

7.  Remove from Oven & allow to cool.

It is ready when it is golden brown

8.  After the Granola has cooled, add the Dried Cherries & Raisins.

9.  Enjoy as is or in a Salad or on Yogurt with some Cinnamon!

Spinach Salad with Peaches, Avocado, & Granola drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar

And there you have it, great tasting Granola straight from Montana! 

Here are some parting thoughts:

The ingredients have some flexibility to them.  I made this batch using Golden Raisins & Currants.  Dried Cranberries would work as well.  You can also experiment with different seeds & nuts within reason.

I actually used 2 different roasting pans instead of cookie sheets.  The smaller, thinner pan cooked quicker causing me to have Cajun flavored Granola (a nice way of saying blackened or burned).  You will want to avoid this.  I would stir every 5 minutes towards the end of the baking to avoid this mishap!

So there you have it!  'Anymonkeycan' make "Blossom's BnB Granola"!

Until next time, your favorite neighborweb Monkey!
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Blossom's BnB Granola

WHAT YOU NEED:
4 c Rolled Oats (organic & gluten free, if you desire)
1 c Sliced Raw Almonds
1 c Sunflower Seeds
1 c Chopped Pecans
2 c Grated Coconut
1/2 c Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 c Sesame Seeds

1/2 c Honey
1/2 c Vegetable Oil
1 t Vanilla

1 c Dried Cherries
1 c Raisins

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
1 Large Bowl
1 Spoon
2 Cookie Sheets
Parchment Paper
Glass/Pyrex Bowl
Cooling Rack

**This makes quite a bit (roughly 12 c Granola) so 1/2 or double it as needed**

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Pre Heat Oven to 350 deg
2. Mix the Oats, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Pecans, Coconut, Pumpkin Seeds, & Sesame Seeds together in a large Bowl.
3.  Warm the Honey, Oil, & Vanilla in the Glass Bowl in Microwave (about 60-90 sec depending on the power of the Microwave.  This can bubble over, so beware.  I speak from experience!)  Stir well.
4. Pour about 1/2 of the Honey-Oil-Vanilla mixture over the Oats-Seeds-Nuts that are in the Large Bowl & Stir Well. Then pour the rest of the liquid over the Oats etc & stir well again.
5. Divide the unbaked "granola" between the 2 cookies sheets lined with Parchment Paper.
6. Place on Middle Rack in Oven for 20-30 min until Golden Brown. Be sure to stir every 5-7 min.  otherwise the edges & bottom will burn.
7. Remove from Oven & allow to cool.
8. After the Granola has cooled, add the Dried Cherries & Raisins

LEFTOVER CRANBERRY IDEAS (a 1 banana difficulty level)

Greek Yogurt with Cranberry Sauce, Pecan Pieces, & Cinnamon

It's usually pretty easy to re purpose most Thanksgiving Leftovers.  Turkey becomes sandwiches or soups or goes in rice/pasta dishes.  The Pies just get eaten as does the stuffing.  But what about the leftover Cranberries?  Here are 2 super quick, super easy, & super tasty ideas for the Cranberry Leftovers!

WHAT YOU NEED:
Leftover Cranberries
(Here's our recipe:  www.anymonkeycan.com/2011/11/cranberry-sauce-with-pear-rosemary-3.html  )

Steel Cut Oatmeal
(Here's our recipe:  www.anymonkeycan.com/2011/01/oatmeal.html  )

Greek Yogurt - Your call on the brand...

Cinnamon - to taste
2-3 T Pecan Pieces per Bowl

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Top your Fresh Oatmeal or Greek Yogurt with 2-3 T of Leftover Cranberry Sauce, 2-3 T Pecan Pieces, & Sprinkle with Cinnamon

2.  Enjoy!

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cranberry Sauce, Pecans & Cinnamon

I'm a big fan of keeping things simple when they can and should be & this recipe certainly does that!

See, 'anymonkeycan' can get creative in the kitchen with the Cranberry leftovers because 'this one' just did!

Until next time, your friendly neighborweb monkey!

GUACAMOLE (2 banana difficulty)

It's summertime and Guacamole is oh so good and goes with oh so many things.  Every monkey should know how to make fresh guacamole from scratch since it is easy stuff.  Today, 'This Monkey' will show you how to make fresh guacamole!

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 Medium Onion (preferable white)
1 Large Green Pepper (or 2 Jalapenos if you like some spice in your life)
3 Garlic Cloves (peeled)
2 Medium Tomatoes (firm & ripe)
3 Large or 4 Medium Avocados (ie Hass)
4 T Cilantro (chopped)
Fresh Lime Juice from 2 Limes
1 t Kosher salt or to taste
1/2 t Sriracha Sauce or to taste

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
Medium Mixing Bowl
Food Processor (mini FP works well)
Chef's Knife skills
Fork & Spoon

WHAT YOU DO: (using a mini FP)
1.  Cut Onions & Peppers in 2" pieces, then cut into 1/4" pieces in food processor by pulsating for 1 sec, 10-15 times.  Then scoop into your Medium Bowl

2.  Peel the Garlic, place in food processor & pulsate in 1 sec bursts until minced, about 10-15 times.  Scoop into Medium Bowl.
3.  Repeat Step 1 using your Tomatoes.
4.  Using a knife carefully cut your avocados in 1/2 lengthwise & remove the pits with your spoon.
5.  Gently score your avocado meat like a tic tac toe board being mindful not to cut into the outer skin.
6.  Using your spoon, scoop out the avocado meat into the medium bowl.  Discard or Compost the Avocado skin.

7.  With your Fork (or a potato masher), mash together the avocado with the everything in your bowl.

8.  Add the chopped Cilantro (can be done in the mini FP in 1 sec bursts), Lime Juice, Kosher Salt, & Sriracha Sauce (optional) & mix thoroughly.

9.  Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator with plastic wrap placed directly on the guacamole to reduce browning.
10.  Enjoy!!

Making Guacamole is a bit like making pesto.  You follow the basic guidelines, but add your own touches.  In the above I left out the tomatoes because I didn't have any.  I like the taste of cilantro and lime juice so I emphasize those flavors.  I also like a bit of spiciness so that's where the Sriracha sauce makes an appearance.  I had some Bell Peppers in my garden so that was my pepper choice, otherwise it would have been Jalapeno! 

See, 'anymonkeycan' make great Guacamole because this one just did!!

BLACKBERRY GREEK YOGURT SNACK (1 banana difficulty)

Wow!  So it's been a month since I last posted.  That's bad.  In my feeble defence, I had a week where I was nursing my CPU along.  It got to the point where not only was I getting the dreaded "blue screen" I was also getting a black screen filled with gray exclamation points.  Not a good scene at all!  For the CPU's last 3 days, I refused to turn it off.  I just kept it in sleep mode.

Then I was off for a 5 day vacation in the Caribbean where I didn't have to worry about my computer, or much else!  When I returned I purchased a new computer, and it took me this week to get everything set back up the way I needed.  Finally!  Enough with the excuses!  I hope to do a strong posting push over this Memorial Day weekend to get my average back on track

For the last 2-3 weeks my blackberry bushes have been going crazy.  I've been eating blackberries with every meal and for snacks.  If you were my neighbor, then you got some, too!

Today is a super simple snack that anyone can do, especially this monkey!!

WHAT YOU NEED:

3/4 c Greek Yogurt (any yogurt will do, but I'm partial to Greek)
1/2 c Kashi Go Lean Cereal (or Granola)
1/4 c Blackberries (or whatever berry makes you happy)
1 T Crushed Walnuts
1/4 t of Ground Flax Seed
1/4 t of Ground Cinnamon

HOW YOU DO IT:

1.  In a small bowl, add Yogurt and top with the Cereal, Blackberries, Walnuts, Flax, & Cinnamon
2.  Eat with a spoon & Enjoy!

Yeah, it's a pretty easy recipe, but sometimes you just NEED a pretty easy recipe!  Look for some more recipes involving blackberries to come your way!