Granola is a food that goes in and out of vogue like the tides. It's good for you. It's not good for you. Good. Not good. Gah! How's a girl supposed to eat? I've come to realize, however, that everything is okay in moderation; and the less processing the better. For this reason I decided to tackle homemade granola. I get to choose just what goes into our cereal and subsequently our bodies. Plus homemade is cheaper to boot.
I thought it would difficult. I was wrong. Very very wrong. Homemade granola is simple, inexpensive and healthy. If you google "granola recipe" you'll get hundreds of different combinations. Really the sky is the limit. I fussed around with a couple of different combinations and found I prefer a minimalist approach. Here is my recipe:
2 cups whole oats
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans (or other nut of your choice; hazelnuts are excellent)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. (Hint: put the oil in first then use the same measuring cup to add the honey. It'll slide right out.) Stir well. Place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper or a silpat mat. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and with a spatula flip the granola. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Allow to cool and store in a cool dark place. If desired add dried fruit.
My absolute favorite way to eat this granola is over plain yogurt with a sprinkling of frozen berries. And when the yogurt container is empty? It's a great place to store your next batch!
Happy Eating and Happy Frugal Friday!
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