When I think of granola it reminds of the natural, whole food Hippie craze that erupted during the 1960’s.
Actually, granola was first created as a health food breakfast cereal by a Dr. John Henry Kellogg, for his patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. It was thought that through healthy eating it would lead to wellness and healing. Dr. Kellogg was on to something big in the late 1800’s.
Kellogg never successfully marketed granola as a cereal but later went on to create corn flakes. It was not until 1972 that the Pet Milk company developed the first commercial granola called Heartland. Other companies soon followed.
But why buy granola when you can make your own, exactly the way you like it. Pair it with Geekin’ Greek Yogurt and you got yourself a winner of a snack!!!
Groovin’ Granola Recipe
4 cups Whole Grain – Old Fashion Oats
1/2 cup Honey or Agave
1/3 cup Vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1/2 cup each, coarsely chopped – Almonds, Cashews, Pecans
3/4 cup of dried cranberries
Exercise your creativity:
Be creative and add and subtract what sounds inspiring to you. Here are a few ingredients to get you thinking: Walnuts, peanuts, sun flower seeds, pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts and shelled sunflower seeds.
Add in after your Granola has cooled:
Chocolate chips, coconut chips, Peanut butter chips, Blue berries, raisins, dried banana chips, dried strawberries, dried apples, dried mango, dried pineapple or dried pear.
In a bowl add your oats, nuts and salt and toss together.
In a pan mix over a medium heat your honey, brown sugar, oil and cinnamon until warm and the sugar has dissolved and ingredients are incorporated.
Stir in vanilla to the sugar mixture.
Add sugar mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet.
Pop your cookie sheet of uncooked granola in an oven at 300° for 20-25 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes. Granola should turn a golden brown and be very crunchy, not chewy when baked completely.
Let cool, then add your berries or other ingredients that could be effected by the heat.
Take your granola along on a hike in a small container or baggy. Bring it out when you are hiking and eat it by itself or add it to yogurt. Enjoy!
Look out for next weeks edition. I will be sharing how to make beef jerky!
I took these bars on a recent hike with a friend and they were a big hit!
