While I’m sure I ate granola once in a while as a kid, my first real recollection of this tasty treat was when my dad had to move out. My parents were happily married, but dad had taken a new job in Kentucky and our North Carolina home had been on the market for longer than expected. Dad moved to Kentucky ahead of us to work while we waited for the house to sell. It’s probably best that the house did not sell quickly. It did not take dad too long to realize that this particular job was not where he belonged. It’s all a blur for me now, but I just remember going to Kentucky to look at new homes with my mom and brother and shortly afterward having my dad tell me that we were moving to California. I have no idea what happened in the middle of that, but praise God whatever it was. By His grace, I was spared growing up in Kentucky. Hello, Bay Area. I love you forever. 

During my dad’s time away, my mom was afraid that he would go hungry while trying to feed himself (something he had not done in 15 years!). Before dad left, she baked him trays upon trays of casseroles and meals to tide him over until he could come back home for a visit. One of the treats she made for him was Uncle Greg’s Granola, and it stands out in my memory as something completely foreign – and delicious! – that I did not remember ever eating before.

My mom wasn’t a granola eater and therefore we kids were not exposed to it much as kids. This was probably for the better as most granola is either full of butter (tasty, but not really a healthy treat!) or nuts (and we all know how I feel about nuts!). I hadn’t really thought of granola again until I was shopping with my friend LeAnn at our local health food store. LeAnn told me that her kids mow through the homemade granola mix she makes. Homemade granola? Why had I not thought of this?

Homemade granola is not just for breakfast. In fact, it’s the ideal snack since it needs no refrigeration or heating and it’s a perfect balance of salty and sweet. I pack granola on trips and include it as part of care packages for friends who need a little extra love. If I think about it, I stash some in my purse in case I am stuck somewhere with nothing to eat and a tummy that insists I feed it immediately. What is there not to like about this granola?