Friday, November 12, 2010

Fake Food Freaks Me Out- Make Your Own Granola

I don't use fat-free, lowfat, sugar substitutes... I use olive oil, butter in small portions, and real sugar or honey for sweeteners.  Sometimes the mile-long list of ingredients on the cereal box is just plain scary.  How many food items really need to be created in a lab and need to last two months on the shelf? 

This granola is from one of my favorites- The Clean Food cookbook by Terry Walters.  We adjust it with different dried fruits and nuts depending on the season and what we have in the pantry.  My husbands favorite breakfast is this granola over Greek Gods yogurt with honey.  ENJOY!

Maple Nut Granola

*4 cups rolled oats
*2 cups crispy brown rice cereal
*1 cup sunflower seeds(unsalted, raw)
*1.5 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup pecans, cashews, or walnuts
1 cup raisins(I like golden or dried cranberries or apricots or apples)
2 Tbsp cinnamon
*3/4 cup canola oil
*3/4 cup maple syrup(Grade A amber)
1 tsp almond extract

*these are the items I hold constant-- all other ingredients can be substituted with other kinds of nuts, dried fruits, spices, and flavored extracts or just vanilla
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl.  Whisk wet ingredients together before mixing them into dry ingredients.  Spread into the largest Pyrex pan you have like an 11 x 14 inch casserole.  Push dried fruits down so they are covered by grains. Bake for 1 hour to 1.5 hours, until lightly golden.  Allow to cool before breaking up.  After it is completely cooled, store in an airtight container. 

Post your favorite combinations!

1 comment:

  1. Elizabeth...I want to be YOU when I grow up! :) Love the writing and recipes (plus pics). I'll check in often to see the yummy things going on at your house!
    erin

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