Homemade Granola

When colleagues started going ‘healthy way’ and started having granola for breakfast regularly, I too was tempted with it. If not for breakfast, I can at least have it for snaks between meals. (err.. I am a foodie, as you know by now and I need a good breakfast to start my day). But every time I saw the pack in the counter in the super market, I would not be convinced to buy it one because of the rate and another because I wasn’t sure if I’d finish it, after buying one!
After searching through some blogs I realized that I don’t have to follow a ‘recipe’ to make granola, just the basics were needed. Since I had a pack of corn flakes to be used up and also a newly bought pack of flax seeds that I had to use, and also brown sugar that was not used from a long time, I set out to make it, and of course it was a breeze to prepare it, absolutely no preparation time, except that the 40 min of baking needs about 4-5 stirs in between.
I didn’t make it in very large quantity, but thought whatever I made would last for at least a week. But then I was surprised when all of it vanished just the second day! Of course I had taken a small jar for mom, who also liked it.
I can say it was much better than the one readily available and works out cheaper too... I’m looking forward to doubling the quantity and making again....

Homemade Granola

Preparation time : 5 min Baking Time : 40-45 min Ingredients: Oats - 2 cups Corn flakes - 1 cups Flax seeds - ¼ cup Almonds - ¼ cup, chopped Cashews - ¼ cup Raisins- ¼ cup Honey - 2-3 Tbsp Brown Sugar - 2 Tbsp Butter - 3 tsp Salt - a pinch Method: • Slightly toast the flax seeds and keep aside • Chop the almonds into smaller pieces and keep aside • Slightly crush the corn flakes, if you feel the flakes are too big • Preheat the oven to 120 deg C (~250 deg F) • In a large bowl, mix the oats, corn flakes, toasted flax seeds, chopped almonds • In a small bowl, melt butter and mix honey and salt • Add the wet mixture into the large bowl with dry ingredients • Mix in the brown sugar • Mix thoroughly so that the oats mixture is evenly coated with honey mixture • Spread it evenly on a large baking tray and bake for 40-45 minutes • Stir it every 10 minutes for baking to be even • Once done, take it out and mix in the raising • Cool completely and store it in a jar • Enjoy the granola as is or with warm or old milk Tips n Tricks: • Use of toasted flax seeds makes it healthy and adds an extra crunch that I loved • Use of brown sugar also added a nice texture to the granola that I didn’t find in the store bought • Adjust the sweeteners as per your personal taste Variations: • Any combination of dry fruits can be added - I had only the ones I have used. Using walnut instead of cashews makes it healthier • Vegetable oil can be used instead or butter

Sending the Granola to Champa's Bake off.