Recipe: Home-Made Granola

Home Baked Granola

Where have all the hippies gone?  They're no longer in San Fransisco, I'm told.  If you're looking for where the hippies are hiding, come and visit Asheville, NC.  Hippies are known to travel where there is beauty, love and art.  It's beautiful here in the mountains and the people are pretty darn nice, too.  I believe Western NC has the most artists per capita than anywhere else in the USA.  You can quote me on that (but I'm unsure if there is a citation to back it up as fact)!

If you're going to be part of the Asheville scene, there are a few things that you'll need to have with you during your tour downtown and on various hikes:

• a water bottle
• some home-made granola

Here is a recipe that I received from Joshua Henry, a friend that worked with me at the Bakery.  This recipe makes plenty- so you'll have lots to share with all your new friends when you break it out.

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees

Mix Dry Ingredients and set aside 

• 7 cups of rolled oats
• 1 cup wheat germ (optional- this adds extra folate)
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flaked
• 1 cup chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds and/or sesame seeds and/or flax seeds

Mix Wet Ingredients together, then pour over dry ingredients, mixing well

• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

 Spread on cookie sheets and bake at 325, turning every 10 minutes until golden brown.

Cool completely and store in an air-tight container.

Serving Suggestions for Granola:

• Sprinkle granola lightly over a salad of spinach, spring greens, feta, diced tart apples and dried cranberries.
• This granola is great over ice-cream!!!!
• Add dried fruits and milk or yogurt as you like for a wonderful breakfast cereal.
• Mix in some M&Ms, dried fruits and small pretzels for a tasty trail mix.