The One with the Friendly Finger and Peanut Butter Granola
Congratulations on your Big Break!
Welcome to Friends with Food Episode #22! Listen here. Our guest this week is Monique Llamas! Monique is the founder of Hardcover Cook, a cookbook & ingredient subscription box and host of The Cookbook Pantry Podcast. She traded city life for mountain life after a four-month stint traveling through the West by campervan. Follow her here!
In this episode we cover Friends Season 5 Episode 22, The One with Joey’s Big Break. This episode originally aired on May 13th, 1999. In a repeat of last episode, Ricky Martin was still going strong with his crossover hit Livin’ La Vida Loca Brendan Fraser was crushing the box office with The Mummy! We did love our tan, square-headed men in those days!
Oh hey, I didn’t see you there!
A perfectly choreographed application of eyedrops to a crazy-pants friend.
peanut butter granola
Beard of bees! Peanut butter or egg-whites! Cereal all over the floor! A general 90s vibe! These were all part of the inspiration behind this crunchy granola. Enjoy!
peanut butter granola
Note: Feel free to mix up the types of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit to suit your taste.
2 cups oats
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup neutral or light-flavored oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup crystalized ginger, finely sliced (optional)
Preheat oven to 325F. Place the oats, nuts and seeds, dried fruit, spices, and salt in a large bowl (chop or slice any large dried fruit, as needed). Add oil, honey, and peanut butter, and mix thoroughly. It should be all gooey and sticky and everything should be well coated. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and transfer the granola to the pined pan. Spread it into an even layer and place in the oven. After 10 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and stir thoroughly. Sprinkle the coconut over the top and mix in. Bake for another 5-15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on things, as granola tends to go from perfectly burned to burned LIKETHAT. Remove from oven when it is golden brown, fragrant, and perfectly granola-y. Set aside to let cool. Once cool, mix in the crystalized ginger, if using.
Serve over yogurt topped with fruit, or however you like your granola. I love Greek yogurt, grated apples, and frozen berries. Feel free to add extra peanut butter and honey to your bowl as well!
