When I was a kid there were two foods I could smell from a half-block away: stuffed green peppers and homemade granola. They existed on opposite ends of my culinary spectrum: one being my worst nightmare and the other my favorite homemade treat. Even as I type this my mouth can't decide if it wants to water in the good way or the sick way while thinking about this contrast. (My sister knows exactly what I mean.) When the smell from the bus stop was the good one I remember running that half-block home and being handed a bowl of still warm granola, right out of the oven. Heaven.
Yesterday it rained all day. We were a little stir crazy, and then – for some reason – I remembered my mom's granola. At 3:00 we preheated the oven and mixed up a batch. We rarely make it, since its straight-up-non-soaked-non-sprouted grains, but it was raining. I was nostalgic. And I caved.
And we're all so glad I did.
As you already know, I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants cook, but I measured just for you and jotted down this recipe. If you are missing an ingredient improvise. Adjust. Flow. It'll be perfect – I promise.
Rainy Day Granola
4 C rolled oats
2 1/2 C nuts (we chose a combination of sliced almonds and chopped pecans and walnuts)
1/3 C sunflower seeds
1/2 C flax seeds
2/3 C coconut flakes
2/3 C coconut oil, melted
1/3 C maple syrup
1/8 tsp stevia or 1/4 C molasses
3/4 C dried fruit (we used a mixture of golden raisins, dried elderberries, dried sweetened cranberries, and goji berries)
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Combine dry ingredients. (Except the dried fruit which becomes hard, bitter, and nasty if baked. Well add the fruit in a bit, so set it aside.)
Add coconut oil and sweeteners and stir well.
Spread in pans (jelly roll or lasagna pans work well) and bake for 20-30 minutes. Watch carefully and stir and rotate trays every 10 minutes. The corners and edges are prone to burning, so be sure to stir in these zones.
When golden brown all over, remove from oven, cool and stir in dried fruit. Store in a glass jar in fridge. (Be sure to eat your first bowl still warm from the oven though, okay? It's magic.)
Now that I’ve got access to gluten-free oats I’m definitely going to try this! Home-made granola is one of my better childhood memories.
What are gluten free oats? Sounds promising.
~ Rachel
Thanks love. We used organic coconut syrup as a super low glycemic index sweetener and it was delicious. Yum!
Coconut syrup? I need to get my hands on this. We added the stevia to lower the sugar but I am not a lover of stevia. We need to talk!
xo
Rachel
Mmm, I made granola just the other day. I’d never thought of using maple syrup… brilliant! My husband LOVES maple syrup, I bet that would make his day!
Seems like I saw a recipe for soaked granola somewhere? But I don’t remember where…
p.s. We are loving the beautiful slings. 🙂 Eventually I will post about them and give you some linky love…
Natalie,
I was going to experiment with soaked oats for the recipe, but all that we had on hand were quick oats and I figured theyd turn to mush. Ill give that a shot with thick oats next time! Glad the slings found a loving home. 🙂
~ Rachel
We are totally missing the homemade granola around here. Maple asks about once a week. I have been playing with the idea of soaking the thick oats too. Let me know what you find out.
Yum! We love making granola here…I usually soak the grains, and I also love adding fruit from the garden that we have dehydrated. Yum. I love that this is something you can change and make ‘different’ every single time, but still get the same warm goodness smell and feel. 🙂
Yum! I just keep a jar of pre-soaked and dried oatmeal (its more like oatmeal “clumps” by that point) for spur of the moment granola and even oatmeal cookies. It still works great though.
Enjoy the beautiful day!
Hey Meg,
Sorry we missed out on todays craft date. My kids BEG for granola too (everytime we walk through bulk at the coop), so this was a special treat. (Thursday?)
~ Rachel
Denise,
Do you soak in whey and water and then dehydrate?
~ Rachel
Such a great idea, Jody! Im all over it.
~ Rachel
Rachel Just found your blog and I am in LOVE. Have been reading back posts and really enjoying myself.
Oh! Thanks, Laura. I appreciate your note. How did you find me?
~ Rachel
I just made granola, too, and it was well worth heating the oven up for. And as I was making it and trying to find positive thoughts about living (for the time being) in a place where it is already 110 degrees, I remembered that I never have to melt my coconut oil 🙂
Hi Rachel,
Re gluten-free oats. “They” figure that oats are, in themselves, gluten-free, but they get cross-contaminated by machinery used on other crops. So there are more and more farmers out there, usually small farms, who are specializing in oats for celiacs, grown and harvested with dedicated equipment. (Gluten is a protein in cereal grains, and celiacs can’t digest it.)
Yummo, we made muesli yesterday but I think next week ill make some Granola. I also have a question about homemade yoghurt. I brought a tub of jalna natural yoghurt (best yoghurt in australia and what we usually eat,) and made some yoghurt with it last week, worked a treat. I froze some of the jalna yoghurt to use again as a starter yoghurt but each time I have tried to make it I just get yoghurt ‘soup’ with a few lumps. Is it because Im freezing the starter yoghurt? Do I need to buy a new tub each week?
i would loooove to know how to make the sprouted soaked variation. Everytime i try its all kinds of funky!!!
Oh we love homemade granola. We make it at least once a week. Don’t you love that you can use what yo have and not worry if your missing a certain nut, seed, dried fruit, or sweetner? We use honey or maple syrup and find it is sweet enough for us. We also add a splash ov vanilla! And I second your blog is lovely. I don’t remember where I found you, but you are on my blog roll.
Here’s a recipe for soaked granola: http://seekingfaithfulness.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/soaked-granola-as-requested/
re: yogurt making – reserve 1 tbsp of your own yogurt per litre of yogurt you’re going to make – you shouldn’t need to buy new starter yogurt as yours is now the starter!
Rachel – I have done two ways. Soak and then dehydrate, or soak and then bake low temp for a few hours, stirring often (adding the other ingredients in about half way when a bit more dry). I do use whey, but I prefer using homemade yogurt or kefir as my soaker. Better flavor. Cultured buttermilk sometimes too, although that gives more aroma and my kids are not as big of fans of it depending on other ingredients (cinnamon balances it out). 🙂
Susan,
That begs the question: did you really need the oven? 😉 ~ Rachel
Great to know, Madcap. Thanks!
~Rachel
MaeKellan,
I buy one little pot of yogurt if I find myself needing starter. Then I just save a tablespoonfull out of each batch (the bottom of the jar normally) to start the next round. This has worked beautifully for me. I have only bought a replacement starter when we have an oops moment and forget to save starter. I have never tried freezing starter, but I am assuming it weakened your culture.
Blessings,
Rachel
Thanks, Elizabeth. And vanilla! I forgot the vanilla! Always a nice touch.
~ Rachel
Kim,
I didnt notice that you had already addressed the yogurt question during my evening absence. Thanks! Ill be trying the soaked recipe very soon. Thanks for the link.
~ Rachel
Denise,
Do you mean you soak in a mixture of yogurt and water?
So many great ideas here today…
~ Rachel
Thanks Kim and Rachel. I just bought a small tub of yoghurt to get me started again. I read somewhere that the yoghurt I make wouldnt be good as a starter, silly really now that I think about it. Thanks again Lou 🙂
Yay, my first batch of yoghurt made from my own starter worked, Thanks for the help, Im off to eat a bowl now. Yumm 🙂
Mae Kellan,
Woo hoo! So glad it worked. Enjoy!
~ Rachel
Rachel — I made up a granola recipe myself, I use jam as a sweetener and flavor! Strawberry vanilla almond granola is a family staple here. 🙂 Here’s a link to my recipe…it does use honey as well…
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/?p=42630
Casey,
That link was funky. Can you repost? Sounds awesome!
~ Rachel
Last sunday i tried this Granola Recipe.. It came well this time and we all enjoy the day too.. (www.vivamagonline.com/index.php) Thanks for the wonderful recipe.. Keep on sharing more recipe for summer holidays..