It's snooooooooowing!

[osprey_archer]

It's snoooooooowing! Or rather, it was snowing earlier, and if there is one thing better than sitting inside toasty warm watching the snow fall outside the window, it is arriving home after a long drive and then being inside toasty warm watching the snow that you are no longer driving through fall

Comments

[isiscolo]

I make my own granola - it's quite easy, and although it's probably not any cheaper than buying it, it's so much better because I can pack it with goodies and there's no filler. (Actually, depending on how much nuts you want to add, and whether you are okay with bulk supermarket nuts or get the expensive local organic nuts, it may or may not be expensive.)

Here's my recipe:

4-5 cups of rolled oats (I like thick-rolled)
.5-1 cup optional kashi/buckwheat groats
.5 cup optional seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)
.5 cups optional flaked unsweetened coconut
If using cashews, add them now because they taste better slightly sweetened/roasted
Spice (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, ginger)
Mix in large bowl

In pyrex measuring cup, combine 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup honey or combination of honey/maple syrup/brown rice syrup/molasses, microwave briefly, mix, and pour over oat mixture and distribute evenly. I personally prefer either all honey or half honey or brown rice syrup and half maple. All maple is too maple-y for me. A little vanilla or almond extract is optional (I usually don't).

Spread on a silicone mat on a baking sheet, bake at 300F for 30 minutes, and then allow to harden. If you don't have the silicone mat you will need to mix it regularly while it hardens or it will harden to the baking sheet. Then combine it with dried fruit and nuts.

[osprey_archer]

My mother gave me her recipe too, so I should have plenty to choose from! Hers has lots of maple syrup, which is perhaps a little more maple than I want in my breakfast.