Unless I'm baking, I tend not to follow a recipe exactly. I use them more as guides for temperature and ratios, technique, and process. Then, as my roommate well knows, I'll make the same food over and over again for weeks until I think I've got it right, and just the way I like it, and then I stash it in my brain and move on to a new dish.
My inspiration came in three parts for this dish. The first being Milk & Honey Granola which comes from a Chicago bakery, but is also sold at my local Whole Foods. It's insanely good. I went to whole foods and looked at the ingredient list on the back of their original flavor. Second, I got inspiration from the cafe I work at called Food. The bakers uses millet and pumpkin seeds and it adds so much texture. Finally, I went to page 26 of Heidi Swanson's 'Super Natural Every Day'. I looked at her granola recipe for temperature and measurements. She uses coconut flakes, currants, and walnuts, which I traded for coconut oil, raisins, and almonds.
Most cookbooks open with recommendations for a well-stocked pantry. It's difficult to accumulate all the basics in a tiny apartment on a tiny budget, but for this recipe, here's what I already had on hand, and recommend that you consider adding to your stock:
Rolled Oats (Gluten Free or Regular)
Brown Sugar (For baking and for my coffee)
Raw Almonds (I add nuts to SO many recipes for protein; and they are great for snacking)
Raisins (I put raisins in my yogurt in the morning)
Chia Seeds (also goes into my yogurt and smoothies, full of omega-3s and fiber)
Coconut Oil
Vegan Butter
Vanilla Extract
Salt
Here's what I had to buy:
Maple Syrup (I like grade B but it doesn't matter)
Millet
Pumpkin Seeds
Flax Seeds (more fiber!)
Sesame Seeds
Sunflower Oil
How does granola benefit your yoga practice:
In a word: Digestion. There's little worse than the feeling of fullness or bloating when you're in the middle of the practice. Granola is loaded with insoluble fiber which helps eliminate toxins from the body. Also, with tons of seeds and dried fruit you're getting healthy fats, omega-3s, and additional fiber which is so good for a happy tummy. Oats are a also a source of mood stabilizing minerals such as selenium, zinc, magnesium, copper, iron and magnesium, so you feel more balanced and calm.
Sister Pose:
I'm going to pair this recipe with Revolving Crescent Lunge which rinses out your toxins and massages you colon.
And now the recipe:
Preheat oven between 250-300 degrees F.
In a saucepan, on Medium-Low heat, melt and blend the following ingredients until the sugars are fully dissolved.
1/2 cup butter/sunflower oil/coconut oil (pick one or use all three)
1/2 to 1 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 to 2 tsp vanilla
In a large mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients. For the seeds, measure to your liking.
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup raw almonds
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup pumpkin seeds
less than 1/4 cup millet
less than 1/4 cup flax seed
less than 1/4 cup chia seeds
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Pour the butter and syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is well coated. On at least two baking sheets, spread out granola in a thin, even layer, over parchment paper.
Bake for 40min-1hr 15min or until your granola reaches a desired toasty color. Stir your granola every 20 minutes to make sure it's toasting on all sides. You may even want to switch your baking sheets between top and bottom racks for evenness. Remove from oven, and if you like clumps in yourr granola, press down with a spatula before you let cool. When completely cooled, store in an airtight container.
Recommended with yogurt, or rice milk and fresh banana slices.
enjoy!
Happy Birthday to my sister Rebekah who will be receiving her very own batch very soon.
