Brown Sugar-Cranberry-Pecan Granola

I love granola!  This granola has my favorite combination of sweet ingredients.  You can crumble this or cut it into bars.

4 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 bag dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Splash of vanilla
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup of oil

Mix the first five ingredients in a large bowl.  In another bowl, mix the oil and honey and vanilla.   Microwave the wet ingredients for about 20 seconds.  Pour the honey and oil mixture over the oat mixture.  Be sure to mix the granola well.  Spread this onto a  greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I've added a handful of white chocolate chips before.  Delicious!  Tonight, I added coconut and marshmallows.  I'll report back after the taste test.  These turned out great!  The taste test went a little too well.

Sour Creme Pound Cake

This is the most amazing poundcake EVER.  I'm giving serious consideration to making it into a cupcake.  I'll report back on that idea!

1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
6 eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sour cream
3 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and lightly flour 1 (10 inch) tube or Bundt pan.  In a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar.  Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir to mix.  Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, starting and ending with flour.  Add vanilla and blend.  Bake for 1.5 hours.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  (This recipe is from Bell's Best IV.)