How about we make some homemade granola? How this came about
makes me smile because when I moved to Texas so many years ago people
referred to me as a hippy, aka "granola."
I guess it was because I had a pair of Birkenstocks and grew up in the pacific
northwest.
I never figured out how this reference came about, maybe because I try to eat healthier? Maybe because I don’t follow the crowd or maybe because I'm a simple person? It doesn't even matter because at the end of the day I can honestly say, I know who I am and by the way I married a Texan.
That also makes me smile…
But life is interesting, because it was my grandmother who had the biggest influenced on me. She had this way of pointing out the benefits of eating healthier. She also told me that if I didn’t take care of my body, I would end up taking prescriptions. No joke, she reminded me of this every time she took her blood pressure medicine.
But who really listens when the elderly speak, especially when you’re a kid? Well, I did and don’t get me wrong, I occasionally enjoy a sweet treat but overall, I prefer making healthy choices because I feel better when I do this.
This includes what
I snack on because when you hit your 50’s you really do become your intake. Real food allows me to stay energized,
focused and prescription free.
So, I decided to grab ahold of my “granola tagline” from many years ago and start making actual homemade granola and what a game changer. Y’all this is very good and easy to make.
Granola Ingredients & Instructions
- 4 cups of oats
- 1 ½ cup chopped nuts (I like walnuts, but pecans or almonds are perfect a mix is also tasty)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 Tbsp. of my spice mix (cinnamon will also work)
- sprinkle of sea salt
- ½ cup honey or molasses
- ½ cup melted coconut oil
This recipe can be made this with honey or molasses and I prefer the honey. When I’m craving
something sweeter molasses wins.
To begin you will need a large mixing bowl to gather the oats, nuts, raisins, spice, sea salt and honey. Mix everything together as best you can with a wooden spoon then add ½ cup of melted coconut oil and finish mixing.
Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes but check at 15 because it might not take the full 20. Let it cool on the counter for 1 or 2 hours then place in a sealed container.
A batch in our home lasts about 2 weeks and talk
about a great option for breakfast or snacking. Take this recipe for a spin instead of buying it premade.
See the good,
Carole
Get my Spice blend recipe here.
Note: Bake on Parchment Paper for quick and easy clean up.
