baking

Five Things Making Me Smile Lately

1. Garage nights with Jimmy. We’ve both been working on some projects a few nights a week in our garage and I so cherish that time we spend together painting, sanding, sawing, and creating. I’ll share what we’ve been working on soon! Completing projects together reminds me of the time right before we got married, when Jimmy helped me make a shoe shine box for my dad. Good memories 🙂

Working in garage

2. Indy. My sister’s puppy, Indy is so sweet. Hannah, Indy, and I spent the day together this past week and it was such a sweet day of laughter, pet sitting, and catching up. Hannah and I filmed a vlog that day, too, if anyone wants to see Indy in action! He got along so well with Lola and the dogs I pet sat. He’s a good boy 🙂

Golden Retriever Puppy

3. Baking Projects. I’m on to my next baking project! I’m making Princess Leia cupcakes for Leia’s first birthday party! I can’t believe she’s going to be a year old already. Time flies when you’re having fun 🙂

Princess Leia Cupcake

4. Gardening. Jimmy and I both agreed that our zucchini is the biggest it has ever been before. I think it’s from all the rain we’ve been getting here in Pittsburgh this summer. It’s kind of hard to tell in the picture, but the zucchini plant is up to my waist! Crazy, but we are loving it. Something else we’re loving? The landscaping fabric we put down in the garden this year. We have done zero hours of weeding and it is glorious!

Garden with zucchini

5. Pet sitting. I think I’ve mentioned pet sitting in every one of my posts for the past couple of years, ha. Business is busy and fun and challenging. When I was a child, it was my biggest and wildest dream to be able to work with animals one day. Now, I’m with animals all day, every day. I know a lot of people probably think it’s silly that I’m pretty much living out my career dream by pet sitting, but that’s just who God made me to be 🙂

Dog walking

What has been making you smile lately?

Banana Nut Granola

I used to make granola on a weekly basis, and then I sort of fell out of the habit. Every time I get back into it, I always ask myself why I stopped! It’s perfect on its own, in a trail mix, stirred into yogurt, or with a bowl of milk.

Banana Nut Granola

I have a few favorite granola recipes, and today I want to share a new one. It’s banana nut granola, and I can’t get enough of it! There’s something about the combination of bananas and nuts that is so delicious 🙂

Banana Nut Granola

Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup nuts, chopped (use any kind you like!)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ripe banana, mashed

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, nuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and banana. Microwave for 30 seconds and whisk until completely combined.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and stir until combined.
5. Spread the granola evenly on the baking sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. The granola is done when it is golden brown.
5. Remove granola from the oven and cool completely. Store in an airtight container and enjoy!