A simple granola recipe for you

The other day I went to the grocery store looking for granola. Almost all the packaged granola has sugar (evaporated cane juice),as a top ingredient, and a long list of ingredients, some food, some funny chemical names.

There was one brand that I liked that had real food on the label: Udi's granola. The ingredients: thick cut whole grain oats, wildflower honey, canola oil, almonds, and pure vanilla.

It was good, a bit sweet for my taste, though. ANd the canola oil may be genetically modified.

So, I decided to create my own granola recipe. Here's my version of "Auntie Ann's wholesome granola."

After visiting with my 5 year old organically raised nephew Elias, I'm coming up with rhymes. Like this one: Oats and honey and raisins, too. Auntie Ann's granola is good for you!

Elias is my muse!

Simple Granola recipe

3 cups rolled oats (avoid the instant oats, Look for rolled oats in the bulk bins)

1 cup loosely chopped whole almonds. I had whole almonds and loosely chopped them up

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup rice syrup

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

reheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, mix together oats, almonds, seeds, raisins and cinnamon. In a small bowl, mix together rice syrup and oil. Add wet ingredients to the rolled oats mix. Blend with your hands, Wet your hands first helps keep the granola from sticking to you.

Spread on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until it looks done, slightly browned

Variations: I use rice syrup for a gentle sweet taste but if you like it sweeter, try using honey. Check out the farmers market for local honey!

I use grapeseed oil because it has a mild taste. You could use coconut oil or sesame oil instead. I don't recommend canola oil, though. It's genetically modified

Try different dried fruits. Add in some dried fruits after baking.

Try different nuts and seeds

I served this granola recipe over peach preserves, to top a fruit dessert, as a breakfast cereal and as a snack. It's addictive!

Food for thought:

"As we lose our vagueness about ourselves, our values, our life situation, we become available to the moment. It is there, in the particular, that we contact the creative self" --Julia Cameron

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