Homemade Granola

So now that I am alone during the day and a big open kitchen is staring me in the face all the time, I am in a baker's paradise. I have been cooking and baking and feeding my Griz and friends for several weeks and have loved it. It is fun to be able to have this kind of freedom.

My first project was a homemade granola. I know, I know, Portland is turning me into a certified hippie! I made this with all organic ingredients and only used natural sweeteners. So it's a great way to get a bunch of grains in the morning with breakfast, or a boost before a run, or a delicious treat served with yogurt, fruit or ice cream.

I had a really good time reading about natural sweeteners, as I am really committing to not buy products that have high fructose corn syrup in them. I have to spend twice as much time at the grocery store in order to avoid those products but it so worth it. It amazes me that foods marketed as "health food" still have this substance in them. It is frustrating just how many things we never even "think twice about" and use on a daily basis have high fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup was a government subsidized sweetener because it was easy to use, twice as concentrated as other sweeteners, and stores and ships easily. But now we see that it is destroying the average American's health... leading to diabetes and heart disease. It causes a quick rise in energy and brings you down just as fast. So we are enjoying seeking out foods that are free from this addictive and terrible substance. It is more expensive to buy foods without high fructose corn syrup, but truly, in the end you pay double in health care for any lack of investment you failed to make in your health. This is a concept I am just beginning to grasp.

Dry Ingredients:

5 cups rolled oats (you can also use a combination of rolled grains)
2-3 cups of raw almonds or pecan halves (or other nuts)
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
¾ cup sesame seeds
½ cup wheat germ (or ground flax seed)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp sea salt

*Other Possibilities: ½ cup dried fruit (add after cooked) –date pieces, cranberries, cherries, apricots, mango. Did not use fruit this time but will try it next time with cranberries or dried cherries.

Wet Ingredients:

¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup or brown rice syrup (can also use agave nectar)
1/4 cup honey

2 Tbsp safflower oil

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together, and then stir into dry ingredients. Stir well to mix thoroughly.

Spread the mixture into two baking dishes. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until evenly golden brown. Stir every 10 minutes to ensure even browning. Stir again when removed from oven to keep it from cooling into a solid mass. The granola will crisp as it cools. If you use fruit, stir once it is cooled. If you want more big clumps in the granola like I did, skip the last turn so it is more of a solid mass and it breaks up as you pick it up.

Store in the refrigerator in a large zip lock bag or other airtight container.

Makes about 10 cups.