Honey Hibiscus Gelatin

Folks-

This is something I cobbled together on a lark a couple of nights ago that turned out pretty good. Think of it as that Jello flavor you never had in your youth. It's super simple, but I was afraid I might forget it if I didn't write it down.

I may try to make hibiscus Knox Blocks or gumdrops next.

Here it is!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp unflavored gelatin powder or 2 packets Knox unflavored gelatin 

4 cups Hibiscus (sometimes called Jamaica) tea, divided

1/2 cup honey, or 1/3 cup white granulated sugar

1/8 Tsp or less "lite" salt, optional (see notes)

In a small bowl, pour 1/2 cup cool hibiscus tea, and sprinkle the gelatin powder over it to bloom. While the gelatin sits, in a large bowl, add the honey and "lite" salt. Heat up or make the rest of the tea to just below boiling. Pour the hot tea into the large bowl and stir together. Add the gelatin and stir until completely dissolved. Pour into dessert cups and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours or until set.

Notes: I make hibiscus tea (hot and iced) from bulk hibiscus flowers I buy at Smart and Final. You can often find them with other Mexican goods (cinnamon sticks, brown sugar cones, dry corn husks and dry peppers) in the produce section of the store. Just rinse the amount of flowers you want to use under cold water, place it in some kind of tea infuser, and experiment with it. I never use the last centimeter in the bottom of the teapot because of the sediment it holds.

Morton's "Lite" Salt is a 50/50 blend of potassium chloride and sodium chloride (regular table salt) meant for people trying to keep their sodium levels in check. I find a little bit added to cold drinks like iced tea or Kool Aid type drinks reduces the amount of sugar I want to add while improving the flavor profile. I don't like it much for anything else, but I find it indispensable for cold drinks. One container has lasted me 15 years of this use case, and I still have a lot left. Just get a small container and try it.

Peanut Butter Granola

Folks-
Holy cats! Another post? What am I thinking?
Today I'm posting a recipe I found at Food.com. I modified it, as usual (the original recipe used margarine instead of olive oil, called for added salt, used 3 cups of oatmeal instead of 2, omitted the bran, and included none of the optional seeds or nuts. So, yeah, I've played with this recipe a lot.) My middle child loves this!
My favorite version is posted below. I usually use an Unsalted creamy natural peanut butter without saturated fats or sugar. I've also used maple syrup instead of the honey with some success. If you want to add dried fruit, I recommend adding it after it is cooling off.
Here it is! My variation of the Hillbilly Housewife Peanut Butter Granola Recipe:


Peanut Butter Granola

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Peanut Butter
1/3 Cup Honey
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Oatmeal
1 Cup Unprocessed Bran

Optional:
1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds
1/2 Cup Raw Shelled Pumpkin Seeds
and/or
1/2 Cup Raw Unsalted Shelled Sunflower Seeds

Heat together olive oil, honey, and peanut butter for about 30 seconds in a microwave. Mix together and add vanilla extract. Add bran and oatmeal and toss to coat completely. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. Stir and add optional ingredients, spread onto the sheet and bake another 5 minutes. Cool and store in a tightly sealed container. Note: watch it closely while baking since it will burn easily at the edges.