homemade granola

there has been a definite shortage of healthy eating going on in this house lately.  what with christmas dinners (we've had five turkey dinners...gobble gobble), travel (ugh, healthy travel eating requires a lot of planning), not to mention all the "gifts" of candy and cookies and fudge...  yikes.  the kid's not the only one who has grown in the last month!  delicious eating, yes.  healthy... um no.  absolutely not.  i haven't been able to post one single recipe for the shame.

but it's january AND it's monday, so all things are new again and it's beyond time to get back to eating sensibly.  and that means this morning i'm making granola.  i first tried it a month or so ago and james and i both gobbled it up like it was goin outta style.  i'm not much of a breakfast fan, but this is so good!  and pretty easy to make too.  i haven't done the math to figure out if it's cheaper than buying boxed cereal or granola... but i'm tempted to believe it is at least comparable (we usually go through 2 boxes of cereal a month, which can run around $10-14).  this is certainly a much healthier alternative and i like that i can adjust it to whatever i happen to have on hand (keeping those cupboards cleaned out!).

i can't take any credit for this recipe.  i stole it from a dear friend and supermom of three delightfully rambunctious little boys (so you know it's well kid-tested).  thanks anita!  :)


Homemade Granola
prep time: 10-20 mins  cook time: 30-60 mins (depending on how much you make)
use the recipe as a base - figure out how much you want and adjust it accordingly.  i think i use about 8 cups of oatmeal and it makes enough to satisfy us for a month.

note: you can buy most of these ingredients in the bulk section to save cash.

2 cups rolled oats - anita's tip: quick oats work better than traditional
1 cup nuts - walnuts and almonds are yummy
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup oil - not olive - anita uses canola, i loooove coconut oil if i have it, but it's a bit pricey.  
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins
other options:
dried fruit
sunflower seeds
flax seeds
oat bran
wheat germ

mix the oats, nuts & seeds (including oat bran & wheat germ, if using).  add the oil and honey.  pour into a large roasting pan and bake at 300, stirring every 10 mins until your desired 'doneness'.  be careful not to over cook it (unless you like really crunchy granola).

when cool, add raisins and any dried fruit.  we still have some dried blueberries and apricots from the summer that i think i will leave on the table for when we're feeling extra flavourful.  cranberries would be nice.  actually, i bet any fresh fruit would be wonderful too (pomegranate seeds are great).

store in airtight containers.  serve with milk, soy, yogurt, ice cream, fresh fruit, etc... prepare to be delighted every single day until you run out.  :)