Tag Archives: breakfast

Homemade Granola Cereal

Today was the day to replenish my supply of homemade granola. It’s a welcome chore since I love the smell of freshly made granola coming out of the oven.

granola

I vary slightly what I use to make each batch of granola depending on my mood (and what I have on hand), but it comes down to this basic recipe.

  • Approx 3.5 c  whole grains (today I used 2 c rolled oats, 1/2 c spelt flakes, 1 c barley flakes)
  • 1 c sliced almonds (I soak the whole almonds for several hours before to make slicing easier, but you could use already sliced almonds and save yourself a lot of time, lol)
  • 1/2 c raw pumpkin seed kernels (pepitas)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
Mix the above together in a bowl. Then add the following and mix thoroughly. 
  • 1/3 c cold-pressed organic coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 c maple syrup
  • 1 T chia seed soaked for 30 minutes or so in 2T filtered water (this acts as a bit of a binder and substitutes for egg whites)
granolabeforebaked
Bake on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silicon liner at 300d F for 45 minutes, stirring once at about 30 minute point. Let cool to complete crisping. 
granolaafterbaked
 
This is SO good with yogurt — it’s the treat to myself a couple of times a week for breakfast. A batch lasts me a couple of months, so I do store it in an airtight container to stay fresh.
Jackie E-S, enjoying a cooler day in south Louisiana

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crunchy vs. soggy cereal

Sunday musings about breakfast cereal …

For many years (i.e. basically my whole life), I hardly ever would eat cereal. For many different reasons, it was my least favorite breakfast food. I guess tastes change. Or eating choices improve. Or maybe it was just a matter of finding the right brand of cereal. Because now I have done a complete turn-around, and my breakfasts include cereal almost everyday.

What has not changed, is that I HATE soggy cereal. So my preferred cold cereal is by Nature’s Path. Their organic, natural grains cereals really hold up to the milk. I especially like the low-sugar, low-fat ones like Heritage Flakes and Heritage Bites. Add some sliced bananas and dried cranberries, and I am all set to crunch down on a great start to the day.

Crunchy cereal
Crunchy cereal

On the other hand, John intentionally leaves his cereal to “sog”. He fixes his bowl of cereal, pours in the milk, then walks away for about an hour while all the milk is sopped up into the cereal. Yuck. But that is how he likes it. Go figure.

Soggy cereal
Soggy cereal

So, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. What’s yours? Are you a crunchy cereal or soggy cereal person?

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