Crunchy, Yummy Granola

 

                                                                       Granola is in there... it is layered in the homemade goat's yogurt and berries... YUMMY!

Use only organic and all naturally raised ingredients (pasture raised animal products)

  • 2 ½ cups thick cut oats, not quick cooking, buy certified organic &gluten free if you avoid gluten
  • ½ cup whole grain flour (spelt, kamut)  Use a whole grain gluten free flour like buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, millet, brown rice, etc. if you avoid gluten for health reasons
  • ½ cup whole corn meal
  • ¼ cup maple syrup, the dark grade  OR 1/3 cup unrefined sucanat cane juice sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk from grass fed cows, goats, sheep, buffalo, elk, moose….. (*vegan? coconut milk, almond milk, etc.)
  • ¼ cup butter from the above mentioned grass fed animals  (organic, unrefined coconut oil ok too for vegans)
  • 2 eggs, beat to a whipped frenzy before adding (use 3 if making gluten free as it helps bind things better, vegan? Grind flax seeds and make an egg alternative with ground powder and water: 1 tbsp ground flax seed to 3 tbsp. water = 1 egg)
  • ½ tsp b. soda
  • 1 tsp. b. powder
  • Pinch of unrefined sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla (I use much more)

*vegan-vegetarian choices: understand the environmental impact of your choices. Growing coconuts and palm kernel oil to meet the global demand, then shipping it all over the world is environmentally damaging. The closer to home you acquire your food, i.e.: local eating habits, the better for the health of the entire planet and all the amazing species we live with and co-share this earth with.

Directions: 

  1. Combine dry ingredients. 
  2. Beat those eggs into a whipped frenzy and add all other wet ingredients. 
  3. Add to dry ingredients to wet ingredients, gradually and coat evenly.
  4. Add more oats if the mess is too liquid, gushy, add more corn meal as well. Is gushy an official “recipe” term?
  5. Heat oven to 250 F.
  6. Bake in lightly buttered pan for 2 hours. 
  7. Stir every 15-30 minutes.  Yes, set your timer every time.
  8. Granola needs to be dry, lightly browned, and crisp.  If it needs more time to get to this tasty point, watch every 10-15 minutes and stir. 
  9. Remove from oven and add the following ingredients: cinnamon to taste 1-3 tsp., 2 cups any nuts and seeds you like – preferably organic, raw, and unsalted, 1 cup unsweetened coconut,  1 cup dried fruit – unsweetened, unsulphered, un-messed with. 
  10. A fun spice alternative is chai spices: http://www.paulayoumellrn.com/blog/2016/7/9/iced-chai-anyone
  11. Enjoy!

Muesli: 

  • soak your oats mixed with nuts/seeds/fruits and milk or fermented milk: kefir or yogurt.
  • Add vanilla, cinnamon, whatever your taste desires for spices. 
  • Eat raw.
  • I used to soak this oat & nut-seed mix overnight, covered on my kitchen counter. Then I added fruit and spices in the AM. Some people prefer to just soak for 20-30 minutes before eating.