Homemade Granola

Do you face the problem of not knowing what to do with leftover, especially dried fruits and nuts?  It could be a few pieces of pecan nut from the pecan pie you baked or dried fruits from the Christmas cake you baked.

I often encounter this problem; a handful of raisins or a tablespoon of cranberries or a few nuts from the previous bake.  As these leftovers are often not enough for the next recipe and to buy somemore would mean there will still be some leftovers. 

I recently found the solution to my problem - Homemade Granola.  This recipe not only solved my problem but also provided a healthier breakfast in comparison to store bought cereal that is full of sugar.  Besides that, granola is a much healthier snack as opposed to potato chips, chocolate and candies; just to name a few.

  

Granola make a wholesome breakfast when served with cold milk.  These can also be used as topping for ice-cream or yoghurt. 

Homemade Granola

(adapted from Joy of Baking)

Ingredients

3 cups old fashion roll oats

1/2 cup almonds, chopped (or any nuts of your choice)

1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup dessicated coconut

1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbsp corn oil

1/2 cup maple syrup (or 1/4 cup maple syrup plus 1/4 cup honey)

1 cup raisins (or any dried fruits of your choice)

1.  In a large bowl, pour in all the dry ingredients except the raisins. 

2.  Give the mixture a good stir then pour in corn oil and syrup.
3.  Toss together, making sure all the dry ingredients are coated with the liquid.
4.  Spread onto a lined baking pan measuring 9" x 13".
5.  Bake at 170C for about 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally to ensure mixture browns evenly. (The browner the granola gets (without burning) the crunchier the granola will be.)
6.  Leave to cool before mixing in the raisins.

Note
(i) The granola will still be soft and sticky when removed from the oven but it will become crisp and dry as it cools. Stir while it is still warm to break up any large clumps.  Once the granola has completely cooled, store in airtight container.
(ii) The raisins and nuts can be replaced with dried fruits and nuts of your choice.