BUTTER GRANOLA

As I was sat enjoying a big bowl of my homemade granola, it occurred to me that although I have given many friends the recipe, or baggies full of it, I haven't posted the recipe. It is not only incredibly good for you, but it is really tasty and has a satisfying crunchiness to it that we love on top of applesauce, yogurt, with milk or even just on its own as a snack!

My Mum used to make this when we were children, from a recipe that she had taken from "Prevention Magazine". I remembered the flavour and when my pallet was tired and disappointed with the commercially made, flavourless cereals with ingredients I couldn't pronounce, I begged her for the recipe.

Don't feel daunted by the ingredient list - all of the items in the recipe are available at your local health food store, bulk food store or grocery store (I personally get the majority of the items from "Bulk Barn"!)

It seems expensive at first when you are purchasing the ingredients for the first time, but bear in mind that this recipe makes the equivalent of 10 - 11 cups of granola. Plus many of the ingredients will last you for quite a while (for example if you buy a big bag of old fashioned oats, they will last for at least 4 or 5 batches!) So really it is quite economical, and the biggest bonus is that these are ALL NATURAL ingredients!!! NO PRESERVATIVES OR FILLERS!!!!

ENJOY!

BUTTER GRANOLA

Ingredients:

2 cups old fashioned oats

2 1/2 cups wheat germ

1 cup rye flakes (lately I have been doing 1/2 cup of rye flakes & 1/2 cup of spelt flakes)

1/2 cup sesame seeds

1/2 cup bran

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup chopped almonds

3 cups dry milk

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup soy granules (mine is actually a powder that I use)

1 tbsp lecithin granules

1/4 cup organic, roasted, ground flax seed

COMBINE IN A SEPARATE BOWL:

3/4 cup honey

1 tbsp real vanilla extract

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

1. 
   
   Mix ingredients together until large chunks are formed (it doesn't matter if all the dry ingredients aren't fully combined with the wet ingredients - it's granola!)


2. 
   
   Turn mixture out onto two rimmed baking sheets and place in a 225F oven for 1 1/2 hrs.


3. 
   
   Keep stirring to ensure even browning and if it isn't brown enough for you after the allotted time, just keep it in the oven longer, but keep an eye on it as you don't want it to burn.


4. 
   
   Place into a large airtight container and enjoy any time of the day!

*We have the container out on our countertop for easy access. It lasts for at least two weeks (could last longer, but with the four of us dipping into it, it doesn't in our house!!!)

*I enjoy dried fruit in my granola so in addition to this base recipe, I usually throw in chopped dried dates, chopped dried apricots, raisins, dried cranberries or cherries, dried pineapple or mango...whatever takes my fancy, or whatever I have left over in my pantry!!!

*Make sure that you use real butter for this recipe - it's not a lot for the amount of dried ingredients - so be a purist and no oil or margarine (many soft serve margarines aren't great for baking and really, they are manufactured items and with ingredients this pure, you don't want to mess with chemicals!)