Quick & Easy Goat Cheese Oatmeal Crackers - Simple Saturday

I day dream about flavor combos. I'm a complete food-nerd. Goat Cheese Oatmeal Crackers are an easy (really easy) way to have your cheese and cracker together, plus the toasty crunch of healthy oatmeal. That sounded like a commercial, but I really meant every word. The other day I was developing a recipe for ABC jam (that's what I call the flavor combo of Apricot, Basil and Cherries). When it came time to taste the jam, I realized I didn't have even a crumb of bread or a cracker in the house. I put a teaspoon of the jam on a slice of cheese and it was SO good, the tang of cheese paired so well with the tangy fruit and sweet syrup. The texture I really missed was the crispness of a cracker, a light weight edible platter for my dollop of jam. There was not enough time (in other words I was too impatient) to make bread, but quick crackers are a favorite pastime of mine.

The Goat Cheese in these crackers is just enough to give the flaky wafer a ting on your tongue and like a good cracker; it accents whatever you eat with it. In only a very few steps, you'll have snack, cocktail or appetizer crackers with a gourmet blend and a touch of oatmeal healthiness. These will keep for days in an airtight container or zip-lock bag.

I hope you'll try these. It would make my day dreams come true. :DRECIPE: Goat Cheese Oatmeal Crackers

1/2 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cup flour
Pinch of Salt
4 oz. butter
8 oz. goat cheese1) In a food processor, pulse the oatmeal til ground into flour.

2) Add salt, flour and cold butter - pulse until all combined.

3) Add goat cheese and pulse until large pieces of dough are holding together. (No water is needed because the goat cheese is so moist.)

4) Pour onto board and squeeze together into a ball. Divide into 2 balls of dough, wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes or overnight.
5) Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes. Sprinkle with Kosher Salt. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes at 350F.

Easy Granola Made Your Way - Simple Saturday

What do you take on a plane to eat? I'm taking this Easy Granola.

Easy Granola Made Your Way

Those early morning flights are the hardest to prepare for, I think. I can easily end up eating an oily muffin (for three times it's worth) from a glass case with a faux French name in the airport, if I'm not careful. Also, I'm a "muncher", it soothes my nerves and gives me something to do for the hours I have to remain in one seat with my knees touching the back of another seat. If I don't prepare for that, it turns into me buying a turbo size bag of peanut M&Ms just because they're close to the water I have to buy after I'm past the security check point. So, this time I'm ready to go. I have a bag of this Granola and I can't wait to munch. I've made this (or these granola bars) each time using whatever I have in the cupboard or feel like mixing in. It's always so good, crunchy and filling. I don't use processed sugar for this, but if you don't like or have maple syrup, brown rice syrup or honey - you can try brown sugar instead. RECIPE: Easy Granola Made Your Way

2 1/2 cups oats
1 1/2 cup sweetener (I used 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1 cup brown rice syrup)
Few pinches of seasoning (I used pinch cinnamon, pinch fresh grated nutmeg, pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla)
1 1/2 - 2 cups crunch (I used 1/2 cup toasted almonds, 1/2 cup toasted pecans, 3/4 cup toasted coconut and a handful of toasted pepitas)
1 cup dried fruit (I used cherries, apricots and raisins)

1) Heat your sweetener in a saucepan with any liquid flavoring (such as vanilla, almond, coconut, etc.) til it boils, stir and remove from heat.

2) In a large bowl stir all dry ingredients together (except dry fruits), then stir in warm syrup. 3) Spread granola out on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake at 350F for about 20-30 minutes, stirring in the pan once or twice through.

4) Remove from oven, stir on pan and allow to cool, then stir in dried fruits before packaging.

This makes great gifts presented in little paper bags, or a healthy bag of munch for traveling. If you keep it sealed well, it will last for weeks.