Wednesday
Apr082009
Eat-it-Every-Day Granola
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So many of you have this recipe already or have received bags of this granola. When I make it, I always give away half. Usually, I'm not sure who I'm going to give it to, but something always comes up--one of my clients, one of Yancey's (back when he was building houses), someone that's feeling sad or stressed or just not receiving the benefits of a granola-filled life. Maybe now I'll be sending it along to the fire chief. He seems like someone you want on your side.
My mom is Queen Granola, and was making granola back when it was considered strange. I remember she used to send it to my grandfather for gifts--he was notoriously hard to shop for, and he always raved about it. During the week after Wyatt was born, my parents stayed here and Mom cooked for us. Our first morning home, she made a big batch of granola and served it with strawberries and yogurt. Nothing ever tasted so good. Oh, to be on the nursing diet again. More recently, I gave some to my father-in-law and his girlfriend for Christmas. They report not caring much about granola in their previous life, but ended up fighting over the last oats. I love to hear that. Kerri, now you can have some all to yourself.
I always eat mine with yogurt, and have it every morning (and sometimes for lunch) when it's around. Occasionally I'm stingy with the fruit and nuts if I'm running low, but usually my freezer is Nut Central, and I throw in big handfuls of whatever is around. I have never purchased nuts at the grocery store. Rip-Off of the Century. I get them at Costco, Trader Joes, or PFI, and use them in embarrassing amounts. The batch pictured here has pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, pecans, and cherries.
This week's extra bag is for my sister because I'm seeing her tomorrow and I love her. Plus she comments on my blog. Try it and see what good things happen for you.
Eat-it-Every-Day Granola
*The only thing this recipe has to have are the oats, oil, and sweetener. Everything else is optional and mix/match depending on what you like (or your kids don't like) and what you have in your pantry. I sometimes add finely chopped crystallized ginger as well.
6 c. old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 c. flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, wheat germ, or combination of any 3 or 4 cups nuts and seeds--almonds (whole, slivered, or sliced), sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pepitas, hazelnuts, pecans, etc.
1 or 2 c. coconut
1 ts. salt.
3/4 c. vegetable oil
3/4 cup pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, or combination of any
2 or 3 cups dried, roughly chopped fruit--apricots, cherries, figs, dates, blueberries, cranberries
Put racks in upper and lower thirds of oven preheat oven to 350.
Stir everything except the dried fruit together in a big bowl.
Spread mixture evenly on two large baking sheets with sides. If you have parchment paper, this would be a good time to use it. Bake, stirring granola and switching positions of sheets halfway through baking, until mixture is golden brown, 25-30 minutes. If you're worried about burning, bake them one at a time.
Cool granola completely on sheets, then stir in dried fruit. Keep it in an airtight container and enjoy at least a week's worth of delicious breakfasts. And give some away. You'll start to have more friends on Facebook.
April 8, 2009
Reader Comments (32)
I'm excited to try out this granola. I LOVE granola, but have had to give it up due to my son's peanut allergy. Love that you can mix and match. Glad you offered suggestions for people like me! ;) I'm still moritified back in the days when you and Yancey came over for dinner. It was Chinese from one of those dry packet mixes! I have come a long ways, but still in need of talented/creative cooks like you!
Please don't be mortified, Midori! Eating together is much more important that what is eaten...our family sometimes has Top Ramen for dinner. Happy Granola-Making!
You're funny! Love the granola! I have to run cuz Ezra is crying so I haven't even read this whole entry...just scanned & saw the part about me. You are sweet. I was just thinking as I ate some a second ago that it was SO FULL of goodness — of nuts & fruits. What abundance of extra yumminess! Have to run. xo
Ok, after reading your new blog entry I found myself out in my kitchen eating a handful of granola. I had an extremly difficult day, and I thick I subconsciously was looking for some quick "goodness" to make me feel better. I can't say it really made me feel better, but it was a great deterant from eating what would"ve been my second Haagen Dazs Fleur De Sel Caramel ice cream bar.Iquess that is a testimony in itself, being is that is the best ice cream bar Ive ever had from the store. Thank you Fran for giving the inspitation to Haggen-Dazs I hope you get some royalties.
OK...I DO have better things to do than comment on your blog all the time, but I can't help it! I read your "granola story" to Hannah Mae as a bedtime story as we snuggled in my bed tonight with my BlackBerry! She loved it. And the Julius Julius story. Such good reading material. Really...I look forward to every post! And...like I said, the next time I'm feeling rich, I am going to load up on dried fruits and nuts (NOT FROM THE GROCERY STORE, I AGREE!!) and make a bunch of granola and give it out!
I concur that Sarah's mother (my wife) is Granola Queen. But Sarah (my daughter) is definitely the heir to the throne. I testify on a stack of Bibles that everything Sarah says about her and her mother's granola is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.
i'm so glad that you posted this yummy recipe...i feel so guilty when i ask over and over, "now tell me again, how do you make this?"
now i can try it for myself.
Hi Sarah! Bethany forwarded the link to your fantastic blog and its been really fun catching your inspiration for making great food.
You gave me some granola courage (I've always wanted to make it) and we're looking forward to a week of yumminess. Thanks for sharing your great ideas with beautiful prose! cj
Michele told me about your blog and I love it so much. You are so creative and I hear and now see ---an amazing cook as is your mom and sister. I make this granola (michele's recipe which is the same as yours) every week. I can't leave it alone. I love it on cottage cheese and yogurt. I found these honey coated sunflower seeds which are really wicked in the mix. My next favorite thing is bahn mi sandwiches. I think you have something in one of your blogs about them. I will look and then I will cook. Thanks for sharing. It's wonderful. Margie
I started making granola a couple years ago after trying Kristen Haferbecker's homemade granola. It's very similar to your recipe but I'm glad you mentioned that you can substitute any nut or dried fruit because I often don't make it if I don't have the sliced almonds. Those are exactly the kinds of suggestions I need to start improvising more! Also, have you tried adding chocolate? I've heard of people putting chocolate in their granola but I'm not sure when and what kind. Thanks for you help!
Oh, Sarah, I'm so thrilled! Gary and I were the lucky recipients of some of your fine, fine granola in our alternative Christmas exchange at church, and we were so impressed and delighted! I always thought I was going to request the recipe, but things stay quite busy, as you know, and NOW I HAVE IT! You are a truly creative and wonderful person, and this is such a gift!! I feel like I'm getting in a little visit with you----thank you!
Just finished 2 bowl of this! Yum. Sure beats Safeway brand Corn Pockets cereal!
Hi, I am wondering if you can freeze this granola? Thanks, Carrie
Hi Carrie! I've never frozen it, but I don't see why you couldn't. Obviously, just make sure to totally thaw it out before you eat it. You could also cut this batch in half.
Hi Sarah,
So I've been enjoying your blog/website for about a month and finally made your granola with some girlfriends during a playdate. We each got to empty our pantries of all the half used nuts and ended up with SUCH a great treat. We made one and a half recipe's so we'd have enough to take home and share. I'm thinking it will become a staple at our home and my kid's teachers will adore me! A little of it in a glass jar; great little treat for them.
I also wanted to say how much your photos of food have inspired me. I love taking pictures and love to eat great food so I've begun to take photos of some of my creations. We also are part of a supper club where the food is gorgeous; I've got a few little food photo albums going on my facebook now!
Thanks for your inspiration and honest anedotes. They are fun to read and delicious to eat.
Ginger
Hi Ginger! So happy to have you as a reader. What a great idea--letting the kids play while the mothers cook. If you "friend" me on FB, I could see your photos :)
Sarah,
I have to agree with Ginger, no turning back now that we have made the granola once! Most likely a Sunday afternoon event in our house for the years ahead. I am curious if you have a place that you like to shop that has some what affordable nuts and dried fruit? Do you buy large amounts and store?
Thanks!
Tammy
Hi Tammy! I get my nuts and dried fruit at Trader Joe's, Costco, or Pacific Food Importers in Seattle's SODO district. Since that one's not close to you, you can get everything you need at the other two. I have a drawer just for fruit and nuts. I used to store my nuts in the freezer, but I go through them so fast that I don't need to anymore! Here's a breakdown of where I buy the things that I put into granola (in different combinations):
Trader Joes: hazelnuts, dried figs, raw cashews, pepitas or pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, crystallized ginger, slivered almonds, dried cranberries
Costco: walnuts, pecans, almonds, dried cherries, dried apricots
Just ate my fourth bowl of granola and yogurt in two days. Part of me has always resented Seattle granola culture, and as such I've always avoided it. That, and nuts and dried fruit are freaking EXPENSIVE. But once I got over the fact that I often avoid adding such goodies to my salads and baked goods, I finally bit the bullet.
And now I'm thinking "why hasn't anyone ever told me how great granola is!".
As if my Montana-sized ego had never played a role.
Question: Do you have to use vegetable oil or would canola be ok?
Ginger
I've thought about how you give granola away to friends. Do you make a double batch? I go through a full batch (on my own mind you, the kids hardly eat it) in six days. SIX DAYS. I went to pour myself some this morning to add to some yogurt and blueberries. Empty container. Boo!
I'm sure this says a lot about my gluttony, but I'm not going to find out what.
Oh, and have I mentioned that I've gained weight since I've started reading this blog. I'm sure there is no correlation. Really.
:mutter:
Ah, I'm seeing part of the difference now. I'm not adding coconut or dried fruit to mine. I decided that the dried fruit is a bit too sweet for me. So that's another 4 cups of "stuff" that I'm not adding to mine. Ok, I feel better now. Carry on...
Mmmmmm MMM!!! This is sooo good, Sarah. Just finished a batch for next weekend's retreat -- one of your many recipes I'm highlighting. I'm holding the wheat germ, coconut and dried fruit (mango, raisin, tart cherry, cranberry) to the side since we have some who are sweet- or gluten-sensitive and another who doesn't care for coconut. So I have the oats, syrup, honey, flax meal, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, walnuts and pecans cooling on the stove. All golden brown. Mmm.
The two pans have been sitting there while I assembled a marinade for the shredded, roasted chicken and braised the italian sausages in beer: every time I turn around I have to grab a sample. Granted, that's cuz my kitchen is roughly 10 square feet (ie: not at all large), but you aren't kidding -- this granola is irresistable! Plus it is so good knowing exactly what is in it, and knowing it will be fresh and slightly chewy.
Can't wait to brag on you. Hope Em has some of your business cards to hand out. :)
Rebecca, I am totally in awe of all the cooking you're doing for this retreat. What a labor of love. Food has everything to do with creating community and connection--all your labor will be such a gift to your participants.
This is excellent tasting granola - one question as I made it yesterday and wasn't sure. Are you indicating 1/4 cup 'each' of flaxseed meal, seeds, wheatgerm? Then in the same line you write 'or 3-4 cups nuts' - I was a little confused by the difference in quantites here - can you clarify the amounts in this line?
Thanks.