Cup or Mug

What do you drink coffee, tea or cocoa from?  I always say a cup of coffee but actually prefer a mug.  This is probably confusing but why not, it comes from my thoughts which 90% of the time are very confused!  At least that is what the hub says and I don't always believe him.  My favorite saying when he is trying to convince me to see or do something his way....I'll google that!  Back to the cup and mug thing.  When I drink coffee at home there are a few of my favorites and I never use other ones.  All of them have been gifts from my family and one from a friend.  It really depends on my mood or just because on the mug of the day.  I have a special teacup for tea and one for cocoa.  The one for cocoa is extra large so it can accommodate a few large marshmallows.  What's cocoa without a little extra sweet goodness?  Even a drizzle of caramel on the marshmallows gives it the wow taste.  I almost start hyperventilating when company stands around while I'm pouring coffee worried they will grab the "wrong" cup.  Weird huh?  Of course that is my controlling I want it my way personality beside the fact coffee tastes better in my signature mugs, tea tastes better in my cup and cocoa wouldn't be nearly as chocolate scrumptious in any other tall mug.  How about this....I have a few of my mom's silverware and I always use the fork, knife and spoon from the set.   They seem to fit just right in my hand, or so I believe!  I even have a favorite glass for ice water that is always by my side during the day.  It's not glass but an old pink Tupperware that has been around since the beginning of time.  Again water would not be the same from any other glass.

Mugs of choice filled with Jamaican Me Crazy coffee anytime
 of the day from The Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters.!

The big cocoa mug.  This should say.....COWGIRL KITCHEN ♡

My tea cup and my favorite tea is Canadian Maple Cream from
 Victoria's Tea House in Niagara On The Lake, Canada.

The granola is delicious.  I always worry trying a new recipe,especially when some expensive ingredients are involved.  Making it saves $ from store bought and also lets me decide how much of my favorite fruit is added.

Granola has to cool for three hours, it can be crumbled
or cut in bar shapes.

Granola Recipe:  In a large bowl add 2 cups of old fashioned oat meal,  1 cup of coconut (I used unsweetened but it's your choice), 1 cup of slivered or rough chopped almonds, 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds (again your choice of nuts).  Mix together and pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  While it is toasting in the oven(this brings out the oils in the nuts and coconut for a better flavor) add 1/2 cup raisins(I used golden), dried cranberries, dried mango and 1/2 cup of chopped dates to the large bowl.  Pour toasted mixture back in the bowl with the fruit.  In a small saucepan add 3 TBSP butter, 3/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1/4 tsp salt, bring to boil for 1 minute.  Add 1 tsp vanilla.  Pour over all ingredients in the bowl, mix well and put back on the parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 300 for 25-30 minutes,  cool for 3 hours then crumble or slice bar style.

I will probably be making more granola for our cross country skiing and snow shoeing if the snow prediction is correct.  Next time dried blueberries and strawberries will be the fruit along with pecans for the nut choice.

It's been very cold in NWPA, I can see the catching up on some new recipes will be on my agenda.  Lentil Veggie soup tonight before the Green Waves hit the court at Otto-Eldred.........Go Green!