Granola Fudgies

This is an adaptation of one of my grandma's recipes. These no-bake cookies are perfect for the hot weather, when you want to pack some sweets for a picnic but don't want to heat up the kitchen!

1/4. cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sucanat*
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 cups granola
1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped nuts
1/4 cup peanut butter

Place the cocoa in a saucepan and gradually add the milk, stirring well. Stir in the sweetener and the butter and bring to a boil for one minute, stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, the granola and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm.

*Sucanat is a whole-cane sugar product, not refining out the essential vitamins and minerals like white sugar does. It's easier on blood sugar level and has a richer taste. Rapadura is another similar sugar product. You can use regular sugar if you prefer, but if you can find Sucanat or Rapadura you should give them a try. They are a "whole food" rather than a refined, naked "food".

White Sangria

The heat of summer is very conducive to a nice cool, light wine drink. Sangria traditionally is red, sangre being Spanish for "blood", but I like it also with a nice dry fruity white in the warmer weather. I made a pitcher of this for the Fourth of July and it tasted very refreshing.

1 bottle dry white wine, chilled (I used Pinot Grigio)
1 lemon, lime or orange, sliced thin
juice of 1 lemon
1 can Knudsen Orange Passionfruit Spritzer (fruit juice spritzers), chilled

Combine all in a pitcher. Stir well and serve.
The Knudsen spritzers are ideal to use as they provide the fruit juice and the fizz in one, and they're only fruit juice-sweetened (no corn syrup or other yucky stuff). If you can't find Knudsen spritzers, use orange juice and sparkling water or club soda instead.