Throughout middle and high school, I practically subsisted on Nature Valley's crisp and crunchy Oats 'n Honey granola bars. To this day, a mere glimpse of the bold green wrapper gets my stomach grumbling. So when I stumbled upon a recipe hack for the snacktime staple, I knew I had to try it for myself.
My first attempt turned out a batch that, while enticing, wasn't quite right; my roommates happily scarfed them down, but to my nostalgic palate, they were slightly too soft, not quite salty enough, and tasted a little raw. Thankfully, with a few tweaks — notably, toasting the oats and swapping out half the honey for brown sugar for a deeper flavor and a crisper, toastier texture — they're everything my teenage self could've wished for. Even better, they're slightly less sweet, leaving my slightly more sophisticated mid-20s persona pleased as punch as well.
Getting to work on time is an ongoing struggle of mine, so I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to streamline my morning routine. Sometimes this means a quickly blitzed 
The solution quickly became apparent after my first taste of baked oatmeal. Don't get me wrong; it's not an exact analogue to a creamy bowl of traditional oaten porridge. It does, however, tick many of the same boxes: it's nearly infinitely adaptable, keeps tummy grumbles at bay for hours, and is, most importantly, delicious. Even better, it can be made ahead and doled out into a to-go container to enjoy at my desk cold, at room temperature, or piping hot, depending on my mood. All in all, a win!
This holiday season, skip the scented candles, and concoct an air freshener that serves double duty: warmly spiced maple pecan granola. 
As its exotic yet comforting perfume wafts from the oven, rest easy knowing that you're simultaneously setting yourself up for a week of enticing and low-fuss breakfasts (just add Greek yogurt), with plenty of granola on hand for snacks, or even jazzing up a bowl of store-bought ice cream.
Not only is 
There are certain recipes that every baking enthusiast should master. In my head, I have an imaginary list of these dishes. It's divided into categories and under the cookies subtitle, you will find oatmeal raisin cookies. Since this recipe was not checked off, I recently decided to make them. 
This weekend, why not celebrate Earth Day by doing something good for your community? I'm heading to the beach for a local cleanup organized by a friend, and I plan on surprising the other volunteers with a picnic lunch. Hearty turkey sandwiches and healthy asparagus and mushroom salad are 
