Monday, December 6, 2010

Honey Cranberry Granola

I just made this for the first time this week, and from the looks of things (and the taste of things!) it's a big hit with folks and my own kids (which is saying a lot!).

Granola sounds like something that is hard to make.  In fact, what is even IN granola? It's a mystery, and the truth is, can be made with lots of different kinds of ingredients, and to suit your own tastes.

The basis of it is oats and wheatgerm. Wheatgerm is a small part of the wheat kernel that is loaded with nutrients and vitamins and can help reduce heart diseases and a host of other things.  High in protein, it is a tremendous food to add to things like granola, yogurt, or your own home made bread. You can buy it in health stores, but my local grocery store had it in the oatmeal & cereal aisle.

Honey Cranberry Granola
(remember my adage: when cooking like this, use more or less of the ingredients that YOU prefer, that is why some of my ingredients range in the amounts that I use.)
4 - 5 cups of oats
1 - 2 c wheatgerm
1/2 c - 1 c sunflower seeds
1/2 c - 1 c peanuts/cashews/almonds
1 c coconut (I omited because I don't like coconut)
1/2 c - 1 c dried cranberries/raisins/blueberries/cherries (any or all work well)
1/4 - 1/2 c brown sugar
Mix dry ingredients.
On stove top, mix together and heat:
1/2 - 3/4 c honey
1/2 c vegetable oil
shake of salt, cinnamon and vanilla

Slowly incorporate this heated mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring thoroughly. It takes very little to "coat" the cereal with this mixture, but if you feel it's not "wet" enough, you can make a little more of the liquid mixture to coat the cereal with.   Spread onto a cookie sheet (may need a couple) and bake at 350 degrees for around 15 - 20 minutes.  Let cool,breaking up any large lumps,  then bag up or place in a lidded container. Makes a nice gift in a bag with a bow on it.

Goodies to sell - granola, noodles, and bread

No comments: