Granola

It seems like just when granola came into our lives 30+ years ago, it was supposed to be this super-healthy breakfast food.  Then in practically no time, it became way too fattening.

Does anyone else see it that way, or was I just seeing the world through an overly self-obsessed teenage girl point of view?

Anyway, granola might not be the breakfast that will cure all your chronic diseases or fit into your Paleo diet, but it's a sure sight better than your special K or Corn Flakes.  Especially if you make it yourself.  Because like a smoothie, granola is just asking for you add a whole bunch of really healthy stuff to something that is just mixed up with a bunch of honey and coconut oil so it tastes good.  I know I like to talk about soaking or fermenting my whole grains.  These aren't any of those things.  But here is how I see my granola... first of all, it's a great snack on yogurt (or just in your mouth by itself).  Yogurt and granola is not a bad breakfast when you're in a hurry or just want your 7 year old to help himself to something on Saturday morning while you sleep in.  I also like to send it to school as an extra snack or easy lunch.  Yogurt and granola can be good for picky eaters.

Here is my base recipe for granola:

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 cups of rolled oats (not quick oats, not steel cut)
1 + cup of small seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)
1 cup of chopped nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts)
1/2 cup coconut
1 cup dried fruit (cranberry, raisins, apricots...)
extra bits like dulse and ground flax seeds

But here is my go-to granola recipe.

My best granola

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 cups oats
• 1 tsp. dulse flakes
• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup coconut (unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup (or more) dried cranberries
• 2 Tbls. ground flax seeds

1. Pre-heat oven to 300oF
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut oil and honey.  Heat just long enough for them to melt and be all liquidy so it's easier to stir them in.
3. While that is melting, combine the oats, dulse, seeds, nuts and coconut ONLY.  I take a few minutes to chop up the big nuts a bit so they are no bigger than a peanut. At least cut the almonds in half.
4. Pour the oil/honey mixture over the grains and stir.  Spread this mixture into a rimmed baking sheet.
5. Bake for 30 minutes.  After the first 15 minutes, give it a stir and put it back in.  Don't keep baking until it becomes golden brown.  That will be too long.
6. While it's baking, use the same bowl and combine your dried fruit and flax seeds (not a good idea to cook ground flax).
7. While still hot, mix in the baked granola mixture with the dried fruit mixture.  Then about every 5-10 minutes, come back and give it a stir so it doesn't harden into a big clump.
8. After it's cool, put it into an airtight container.  It will be best in the first few days, for sure.  But will keep for 2 weeks in a pinch.  Like bread in our house, most of it dissappears in the first 24 hours, then it becomes less appealing because it loses some of its wonderful flavor after a few days.