I am mostly okay with paying more money for farmer's market food because it often tastes better and lasts longer, not to mention the local aspect, but everywhere we go granola is often very high priced. We eat a lot of granola around our house; I often eat it as a snack and Donny has gotten into eating organic yogurt with granola and fresh berries. I found a couple granola different recipes and sort of made my own. Turns out granola is so easy to make and tastes delicious. And the great thing about granola is that even if you don't have 1 or 2 of the ingredients it can still be just as yummy.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In one large bowl combine: 4 cups of rolled oats, 3/4 cup wheat germ, 3/4 cup oat or wheat bran, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup of finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts and/or almonds), 1/2 cup flax seed. Mix well.
Over medium heat in a saucepan combine: 3/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbl. maple syrup, 1/4 cup + 2 tbl. honey, 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. Stir well. Heat until boiling.
Add hot liquid mixture to dry mixture. Stir extremely well. Spread out over two 9x13 baking sheets. Bake in oven. After about 10 min. stir mixture on each sheet. Check again after another 5-10 min. If lightly brown, take out of oven to cool. Granola will start to harden and will cook more even after you take out of the oven. Once cool, add about 1-2 cups of dried cranberries and/or blueberries. Enjoy!
Makes more than 64 oz. (fit perfectly in two 32 oz. mason jars + 1 bowl to eat right away)
thanks Malika, just checked out your site and after the kiddies are tucked in will perouse further...come and see me in the shop sometime!
ReplyDeleteHi - I am enjoying reading them. Glad to see you are using flax seeds in the granola but most of my reading and experience with flax seeds is that the seeds should be ground and not used whole. I use a small coffee/seed grinder to make the flax meal and put a tablespoon in my morning shake. The theory is that because they are so small that they just go right thru your system and don't do any good as a whole seed. Not sure if cooking them, the way you are doing with the granola changes that but it may be something you want to check out.
ReplyDelete