Granola!

Hi Friends:

Let me start by saying, I'm picky about granola. Whether in breakfast cereal, snack food or bar form, ingredients and texture matter! First and foremost, it should be healthful - low in sugar and fat. If it rivals a candy bar, I'll take the candy bar, thank you. Next, I prefer a mix of oats, nuts and dried fruit with minimal spice added so the flavors of the key ingredients are discernible and the granola is versatile enough to be combined with yogurt, hot cereals or used as a topping for fruit and desserts. Finally, I like it crisp which is achieved by baking. With chewy granola, the baking time is either eliminated or shortened. 

As an avid recipe reader, I can't tell you how excited I was to come across "A Better Granola" created by a Bon Appetit staffer. This recipe has it all: egg white for crunch, customizable, healthful ingredients and it's easy and fun to make! I made one small change: the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and I reduced that to 1/4 teaspoon in compliance with my prerequisite of minimal spice. For the full recipe, click above; now let me walk you through it!

The recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts. I used 1/2 cup each of walnuts, almonds and pistachios. The pistachios add great color and flavor.

You can add either 1/4 cup of olive oil or warmed coconut oil. I opted for coconut oil as it is actually heart healthy and helps with blood sugar control.

I added the suggested agave syrup, a natural sweetener that is low glycemic (does not cause blood sugar spikes), but the recipe says you can swap maple syrup or honey for the agave if you like. The unsweetened coconut shavings/chips are a must!   

Toss all ingredients to combine and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake granola, stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown and dry - 40 to 50 minutes. Note: the recipe says it will crisp as it cools and, sure enough, it crisped nicely!

Mix in 1 cup dried fruit. I used cherries for their tart flavor.

The granola stays crisp and flavorful when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Give this recipe a try (click on the link above); it's a great one to make with your kids!