Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Wicked easy home made granola

Granola is one of those "health foods" that can be really high in fat, sugar, and calories depending on the brand. SO you go to buy the organic all natural stuff and realize you have to sell your first born in order to buy some... So why not make some delicious and nutritious granola at home for cheep?! It really is easy. Mix together your favorite ingredients with a little maple syrup and a little juice of your choice, into the oven to brown and DONE!


(as we like to say... those easy recipes sure do get around!)
Low-Fat Granola
Here is my version that was inspired by Mise en Place who was inspired by Everybody Likes Sandwiches who was inspired by Mark Bittman

6 cups oats, not quick cook
1/2 cup regular, uncooked quinoa
1 cup dessicated coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup almond chunks
1 heaping tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup POM juice
(just realized I didn't type in that I added raisins and dried dates to the granola once it cooled off... SO GOOD!!)

1. Heat oven to 300F.

2. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add the maple syrup and POM and stir well with a wooden spoon to get everything coated. If you feel that it needs more liquid, add a bit more maple syrup or POM.

3. Spread the mix out into a large baking dish (I needed 2) and bake for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that nothing burns. When the granola appears “golden”, remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an air-tight container.


Looking back I didn't really taste the POM at all, so save it to drink and use another type of cheaper juice instead... It was the only juice I had on hand so that's why I used it.

19 chews:

Chow and Chatter May 26, 2009 8:16 AM  

wow its so easy, love it

Anne May 26, 2009 9:54 AM  

That sounds great, and it doesn't seem hard at all. I'm bookmarking this :)

Sarah, The New Girl May 26, 2009 11:22 AM  

That does sound great!! Never would have thought I could make granola :) Good tip on the juice as well; POM is good but expensive!

Sarah, The New Girl May 26, 2009 11:22 AM  

That does sound great!! Never would have thought I could make granola :) Good tip on the juice as well; POM is good but expensive!

Maria May 26, 2009 11:32 AM  

I've never put quinoa in my granola, great idea!! I bet the POM is good too!

The Diva on a Diet May 26, 2009 2:24 PM  

Mmm, what a great idea to use the POM, Steph! I'll bet its delicious. So true about the benefits of making your own granola ... so much better for you!

stephchows May 26, 2009 3:21 PM  

It really was super easy! The recipe caught my eye because of the quinoa in it! LOL Seriously though all of those ingredients are things I love!! The only thing missing is pumpkin... hmm maybe I'll try that next time :)

Tung In Cheek May 26, 2009 3:27 PM  

hey, thanks for visiting my blog!

i've been looking for a healthy granola recipe forever, since i have a costco-sized box of rolled oats sitting in my pantry. looking forward to making some!

Sara May 26, 2009 3:56 PM  

I love granola, but I never buy it and I never make it. Funny huh? I love the sound of this one, I think I'll try it for my first attempt at homemade granola!

amandalaird May 26, 2009 4:17 PM  

I love the idea of using POM in this! I have to admit that after a day or two the divine hint of citrus had all but disappeared; I just made a second batch of this granola and even though I used more juice this time around it really didn't make a difference. It's mostly to moisten the ingredients so that they crisp up.

Glad you enjoyed it! Power to the homemade granola.

Stacey May 26, 2009 8:17 PM  

Wow, that looks delicious. I love granola to pieces!

Astra Libris May 26, 2009 9:30 PM  

Thank you, thank you! I've been intending to make some homemade granola lately for exactly the health/economics reasons you described... and now, like magic, here you have provided me with this incredibly gorgeous recipe!! You rock! :-)

happytummy May 26, 2009 11:11 PM  

oh gosh, i LOVE granola. this sounds fantastic! i love everything you put into yours :)

you have a lovely blog! your pictures are beautiful.

gaga May 27, 2009 1:27 AM  

Granola is great and homemade is soooo much better than the store bought stuff. Yummy!

Steph May 28, 2009 8:40 AM  

I can never eat store bought granola.. it tastes dirty..haha. Ok, not literally, but just really greasy and coated. Homemade granola is just way too addicting.

Blossom June 18, 2009 7:59 AM  

Quick Question -- can I substitute something else for the quinoa? Not sure I can easily get it where we live. We've fallen in love with peach & yogurt & granola parfaits and I'm hoping that this granola paired with frozen peaches (graciously donated by a friend) and plain non fat yogurt will be a better option than the one we get when we travel.
Tx
Blossom

stephchows June 18, 2009 9:36 AM  

Hey Blossom! Great question. The quinoa is basically there for a boost of fiber and crunch, not too much added flavor so if you totally took it out I'm sure it would still be delicious! The great thing about this recipe is you can easily sub out things you don't have on hand. If you don't have POM juice just use a juice you have on hand, for that part it's more about adding a little sweetness and liquid then the flavor. If I took out the quinoa I would probably just add in a little more flax and oats :D Let me know how you like it!! Thanks for visiting and asking :)

Pilbara Pink August 11, 2009 1:49 AM  

What is POM juice? Forgive me - I live in Australia ;-) I have been making my own granola for ages but this is different and I am going to try this version too. Love to make my own and know what I am actually eating!

stephchows August 11, 2009 9:23 AM  

Pilbara Pink- POM is 100% pomegranate juice (it's a brand of it here in the states) but don't feel like you have to use it, any fruit juice could work! So use whatever you have on hand or what you'd think would taste good :)

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So this is the spot where I tell you that you are a big boy or girl and make food choices for yourself. I'm not a dietitian... nor do I play one on TV! I do this for fun and for the sake of sharing and meeting new people. If you don't agree with what I cook or the ingredients I use that it 100% ok, please just don't harass me with insults about why I choose to eat the way I do :) thank you!

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