Yet one more reason to make your own granola; E The Online Environmental Magazine is reporting that a Rhode Island health food store owner has taken Kashi cereal, as well as Barbara’s, Bear Naked, and Peace off his shelves after realizing that “the cereals labeled “organic” or “natural” contained genetically-modified (GMO) ingredients and/or the same presence of pesticide residues found in conventional cereals costing much less.”
Don’t have time to make your own granola ? Nonsense. You can do this while you’re making dinner or on the computer, just set the timer.
350 degree regular oven or 300 convection oven
1 rimmed sheet pan
2 1/2 to 3 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking or instant, and preferably organic)-cover pan in a relatively thin layer
2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup) or more, according to taste, drizzled over the oats
1 teaspoon salt, preferably kosher, less if regular salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or nutmeg, ginger, cardomon…)
2 teaspoons veg oil of choice drizzled over oats
(you can put all of this in a bowl and toss around if you like)
Mix the oats around a bit to distribute the honey, oil, spices. Bake 15 minutes, remove from oven and spread around so it browns evenly.
At this point you can add:
1 cup or more of chopped nuts: almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans…
1/2 cup coconut (preferably unsweetened, but sometimes hard to find)
Put back in oven for another 10 or 15 minutes, or until all is nicely browned. Add any dried fruit (cranberries, currants, raisins…) once pan is out of the oven.
Really, the possibilities are endless; customize away. Chocolate chips ? Banana chips ? The last few days I have served mine with a topping of warm strawberry/rhubarb compote and fresh yogurt. Divine.
Strawberry/Rhubarb Compote
1 pound rhubarb- cut in 1/2 inch pieces (if stalks are fat, cut lengthwise first)
juice from one orange (or approx 1/3 cup oj)
2 tablespoons honey/brown sugar/white sugar
1 cup sliced strawberries
Optional: 1 tablespoon grated orange rind, a dash of dried ginger, or some fresh ginger
Put rhubarb, juice and honey in non- reactive pot, bring to boil, cover, lower heat and simmer 5 minutes or until rhubarb is soft, but not mushy. Remove from heat, add berries, stir to combine. Delicious cold or hot, as is or with ice cream, on granola…
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