Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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.

8 comments:

  1. That looks awesome..I love all the ingredients here..

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  2. wow, i too like to try this... but not getting the flax seeds. Soon will try. book marked...

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  3. Nothing will beat the homemade granola, healthy and prefect for breakfast..

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  4. Healhty and delicious..loved idea of cashews in it.

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  5. This looks so delicious, love the way you presented.

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  6. Homemade is always the best..loved all the ingredients n flavors going in there...great granola recipe :)


    US Masala

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  7. Hey Sumana, looks delicious and is a good snack. You are trying out interesting stuff these days. Cool!!!

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