When I found myself back on the wards for one very early morning, I knew I'd need another hearty breakfast to make it through rounds. I've always loved my Mom's granola, and lucky for me she sends me home with some nearly every time I see her. But I hadn't seen her and was out of granola! I finally took to the internet to browse some recipes.
It turns out for granola there are three basic elements you need: oats, a binder, and a sweetener. The binder is usually an oil or fat of some sort, but you can get away with applesauce or something less fatty. Sweeteners can range from molasses to syrups to honey to brown sugar. My Mom adds orange juice to hers.
From there, you can play with the flavors to give it whatever profile your heart desires. I've been into the idea of apple pie spices lately so I substituted some apple sauce for oil, and added cinnamon, clove and nutmeg to give it that warm apple spice taste. I wanted a little extra protein and fiber to make it more filling so I threw in some nuts and raisins too. Just make sure to PUT THE FRUIT IN AFTER IT'S DONE BAKING - otherwise you'll end up with hard, dried out raisins that will break your teeth. As long as you fold them in while it's still warm they'll incorporate into the nice big chunks that make granola so satisfying.
Pack it in a jar and give it to your friends. Pour some in a bowl and enjoy with some milk. Or toss some into a baggie and stuff in your pocket for those early morning wakeups where toast and butter just wont' cut it.
Apple Pie Granola
dedicated to Dennisse Reyes
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup oil - I used sunflower, corn would work fine
1-2 tbsp brown sugar, to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups of old-fashioned oats (don't use steel-cut or instant)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves or allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup walnut pieces
optional: flax seeds, pepitas, any other seeds your heart desires
1/4-1/2 cup raisins
Combine first 5 ingredients (wet ingredients plus sugar) in a bowl. Separately, combine oats, spices, and nuts. Combine all ingredients and stir until well-incorporated. Spread on baking sheet (spray sheet or use a silicone mat/parchment paper so it doesn't stick). Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring often. When the mixture is golden-brown remove from oven, stir in raisins and let cool. Don't worry if the granola is still soft, it will harden as it cools.
optional: flax seeds, pepitas, any other seeds your heart desires
1/4-1/2 cup raisins
Combine first 5 ingredients (wet ingredients plus sugar) in a bowl. Separately, combine oats, spices, and nuts. Combine all ingredients and stir until well-incorporated. Spread on baking sheet (spray sheet or use a silicone mat/parchment paper so it doesn't stick). Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring often. When the mixture is golden-brown remove from oven, stir in raisins and let cool. Don't worry if the granola is still soft, it will harden as it cools.
