I don’t really understand how time works on weekends. I always go in thinking I’ll get everything done and still have lots of time to doodle in front of the TV, and then it’s 9:48pm on Sunday and I still haven’t published my blog post.

Fortunately, this usually means my weekends are packed with fun and exciting things. Take, for example this weekend: glassblowing, a bluegrass music festival, and rock climbing. I really can’t complain that my time goes wasted. It’s just a mysterious thing that weekends always seem to have so many fewer hours than I expect.

Hence a recipe that I knew would be quick. All week I’ve been having KIND banana nut granola with yogurt for breakfast, and have been consistently disappointed that there was no peanut butter involved. I think I’ve gotten to the point where I very rarely consume a banana without peanut butter, so one makes me crave the other. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the KIND granola texture – it tasted like it was trying to be healthy, which I don’t really appreciate in a granola – I want that crunchy, fill-you-up texture, not the we’re-gonna-sub-in-some-rice-puffs-for-oats stuff.

This is all to say that peanut butter granola had been on my mind, and once I realized most recipes for it only call for 5 ingredients, I was sold.

First, put the peanut butter (crunchy or smooth is fine) and honey in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth.  Stir in the vanilla extract and cinnamon.In a small bowl, pour the liquid mixture over the oats and stir to coat.Turn out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.Bake for 15 minutes at 325°F, stirring once, until golden brown.Remove from oven and allow to crisp up further on tray while cooling before transferring to airtight container. Obviously, this recipe is scalable, and you can feel free to add anything you think would go with it. I was at a loss for what to put in with peanut butter that I would want to eat at 6am, but if you’re more flexible with your consumption, some ideas would be banana chips, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, or sunflower seeds.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Granola

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons peanut butter
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, microwave peanut butter and honey for 30 seconds and stir until smooth and melted.
2. Stir in vanilla extract and cinnamon to combine.
3. Pour mixture over oats in a small bowl, stirring to coat.
4. Spread evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes, stirring once, or until golden brown.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool and crisp on baking sheet before transferring to airtight container.