Easy Tzatziki

EASY TZATZIKI

Level: Easy

Total: 15 min

Prep: 15 min

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

1 cup Greek whole milk yogurt

1 English cucumber, seeded, finely grated and drained

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon fresh

Lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and dill.  Season with salt and pepper. Chill.

For some extra flavor, you can add any of the following:

Olive oil

Coarsely chopped fresh mint,

Brush a pita with some olive oil and sprinkle za'atar on top. Bake in the oven until crispy and serve.

Granola

GRANOLA

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 21

Yield: 8 cups

INGREDIENTS

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)

1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and ½ cup pepitas)

1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil

½ cup maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)

Totally optional additional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.

Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.

Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will get crispier as it cools.  Let granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips). When cooled, break granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don’t want extra-clumpy granola.

Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.