Granola is a snack
or breakfast food consisting of three basic ingredients: grains, nuts and dried
fruits. Sometimes it is toasted with oil
and honey giving it a crisp texture and sweet glaze. A crunchy granola provides you with essential
protein, vitamin B and fiber.
Develop your own
recipe by adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup different combinations of ingredients to the
rolled oats such as: wheat flakes, wheat
bran, wheat germ, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pecans, cashews,
peanuts, coconut or carob chips. Also,
dried fruit such as apricots, cherries, currents, dates, peaches or raisins add
a different flavor.
Preparation
time: About 10 minutes.
Equipment you’ll
need: large saucepan, wooden spoon,
solid (nested) measuring cups, large bowl, 13 x 9 x 1-inch baking pan, cooling
rack, large serving spoon and storage container with lid.
Safety: Use
dry potholders to put baking pan into oven and remove. The honey syrup is hot,
let the oat mixture cool before mixing in fruit.
4 cups old-fashioned whole grain rolled oats
1/3 cup honey
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup thin
sliced almonds
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dry sweetened cranberries
1. Preheat oven to 300-degrees.
2. In a large saucepan over low heat, heat the oil and honey until mixture
is thin.
3. Remove from heat and stir in oats and
almonds; mix to coat.
4. Spread onto a shallow layer on a baking pan
coated with cooking spray. Bake
about 25 minutes
or until light brown.
5. Remove pan from oven and place on cooling
rack. After oat mixture cools,
transfer to large
mixing bowl.
6. Stir in raisins
and cranberries. Store
in an airtight container.
Clean up: Turn
off oven immediately after use. Take
pride in leaving a clean kitchen!
Carolyn Gass Hardimon, M. S.
Family and Consumer Science
Home Economist