In an email today, Melissa asked me if I had used QOOP to get prints of my digital pictures, and it reminded me that I had never written on here about my experience using their service.
I found them through flickr. If you click on the "order prints" link above one of your pictures, there at the very bottom is a link to qoop's services. It is easy to get an account and start using their print service.
The nice thing is that you can upload a few pictures at a time, upload any of your sets, or upload all of your flickr photos. Because my sets are so disorganized, I went in to flickr and made a "qoop processing" set.
I like the fact that you qoop lets you add a white or black border to your prints, which I love. And their website is very easy to use.
Their prices per print are cheaper than other services, if I remember correctly. But I thought qoop shipping was pretty expensive. I'm not sure how it compares with other online print companies, so maybe you make up those per print savings there. However, the pictures got to me super fast--two days, maybe?! Fast.
The quality is fantastic.
I did to go back and re-upload the pictures I wanted to print because I learned that "Flickr Uploader" resizes your photos automatically to a low print quality. If you don't know about that, or aren't sure how to change it let me know, and I'll tell you about it. But I know that made a difference in the clarity of my pictures.
All in all, I thought it was super-easy and super-fast. And it is nice to finally have some prints in hand. I forget how nice that is. They also offer other services like stickers and prints on canvas--both of which I'd love to try. They sound fun.
So, here's my grandmother's granola recipe. But before I give it to you, I have to tell you that my grandmother had fifteen children and this recipe probably is enough for fifteen children! She usually makes a batch each for Christmas and gives it out as gifts to some of her children who love it (hi, Dad!). When I make it, I cut it in half, but really you could probably cut it in half again. She has two GIANT stainless steel bowls (like commercial kitchen sized) that she makes it in. So just be ready....I'm giving you the full-sized recipe. You can cut it as you please:
Mix together:
5 pounds oats
A scant 2 cups of each:
oil
brown sugar
honey
wheat germ
She also adds whatever kinds of nuts she has on hand. Usually cashews, almonds, walnuts, peanuts. Add these before baking.
heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread granola onto shallow baking pans. Reduce to 225 degrees and place in oven. Bake for 1-2 hours, depending on the depth of your pan, stirring every 15 minutes. You are only baking until the oats turn golden brown. Turn off the oven and let it stay in the oven for several hours, until cool.
My favorite way to eat the granola this summer is over vanilla yogurt and berries or over vanilla ice cream--after all my children are quietly tucked in their beds. Doesn't everything taste better then?!
Hope you enjoy the recipe!
