Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Granola, finally!

I've been wanting to make my own granola since I saw Michelle's Taste Canada entry featuring maple granola. I do love granola and I find that the purchased variety sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. Too much sugar, too little fruit and even less nuts always leaft me somewhat disenchanted.

I always thought that making granola was difficult. Don't ask me why because just by reading the recipe one can see that it is not, however something always made me uneasy about it...until I read Michelle's recipe and did feel a crave to make my own that I could resist no more. Other of my favourite bloggers have made granola and I've checked Heidi's Honey-toasted fruit muesli, Niki's Granola?, and Tarzile's Granola maison à la noix de coco. In the end, I opted for following Michelle's recipe. All the other recipes looked very good but Michelle's used less ingredients, all of which I happened to have on hand or had a good substitute for.

In my rendition of the recipe I've increased the amount of oats in an effort to reduce the sugar and fat, and then I've doubled the portion of almonds and raisins (to cancel out???), but I love almonds and raisins so much, I have to have lots. I've also used honey since I did not have any maple sugar.

The granola was very easy and fast to do. Actually, to my delight, it took longer in the oven that it took to prepare. I guess I can say safely that I'll never have store-bought granola again!

Granola
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
2 cups non-instant large flake oats
1/2 cup almonds, cut up
1/2 cup raisins

In the roasting pan melt the butter and honey. Add the oats and almonds. Mix well and put in a 350F oven for about 10 minutes. Then add raisins and cook another 10 minutes on until the granola showns the shade of blond you are looking for.

Remove the pan from the oven and let the granola cool in the pan. Once cooled, break up the lumps with your hands (they fall apart easily) and store.

9 comments:

FoodNinja said...

Wow that is a nice jar-o-granola.. I too have not been fond of store got I am gona have to try this one..

Randi said...

sure, here is a recipe. 1 box devils food or other dark choc. cake mix. 1 reg. size box instant choc. pudding mix, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup milk or water, 4 eggs, 3/4 cup kahlua. Mix well, pour into bundt. i baked at 350 for 35 min( my oven is way hot). Glaze with sifted icing sugar mixed with some kahlua. I also added some choc. chips to the cake batter.

enjoy!!

eat stuff said...

That looks Great Ana, you must be very happy with your batch! I have made some bircher museli... and I think granola will be next on my list *grin*

Unknown said...

That granola looks so good. I'll never go back to store bought since I started making my own~ you have so much more control over the fat content when you make your own.

Elvira said...

Não é o que chamamos por cá muesli? O ideal para começar bem o dia.

De resto, vou tentar participar a mais eventos gastronómicos nos blogues. Da última vez, parti para reportagem urgente e não deu para o Sugar High Friday. Mas vou ficar atenta (só tenho medo de ter pouco vocabulário culinário... risos).

Joycelyn said...

hi ana, wow! home-made granola - how awesome is that? can just taste it with a big dollop of thick creamy greek yogurt...mmm

Ana said...

Templar: Thanks!

Randi: Thanks for the recipe.

Clare: Are you going to post your recipe for bircher muesli? And, by the way, what is "bircher"?

Linda: You are so right about controlling what goes into your granola. I wish I had started a lot sooner.

Elvira: É o mesmo que muesli. Por aqui usamos ambos os nomes mas não sei qual a diferença entre eles (provavelmente nenhuma).

J: I am still hoping to try greek yogurt. As far as I know it has not made the trek up north yet.

Michèle said...

Hi Ana, Im glad you gave it a try! Ever since I first made it for Taste Canada I've been making about 2 small batches a week for my daily breakfast. Im totally hooked! I find that I do prefer using honey now instead of the maple syrup and I usually add some cinnamon and ground cardamom too.. So so good! Im glad you've discovered the joys of homemade granola too. Its so much fun to vary the batches with different nuts or dried fruits each time!

Ana said...

Michelle: you are so right. I cannot thank you enough for the push you unknowingly gave me. I am tottaly hooked on this now. And it is so satisfying a smaller portion is enough.