Granola

OK.. I'm back.. inspired by Clarvinn and Mum Ong to start blogging again.

On the weekend when Mo was busy working, I decided to head to the markets to get myself some ingredients to make Granola. So i got myself some nuts, dried fruits, rolled oats etc.

It's been lingering in my mind for a long long time to make my own breakfast cereal.... so i finally got my act together and did it on the weekend.

I've read a lot about Nigella Lawson's Granola and thought I'd use her recipe as a base and adapt it to my liking. So here you go.. this is my tweaked version of Nigella Lawson's Granola recipe:

Dry ingredients:

5 cups rolled oats

1.5 cups raw almonds

1.5 cups pecan halves

1 cup hulled raw sunflower seeds

2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

¾ cup sesame seeds

¾ cup light brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

Wet ingredients:

1 can Heinz apple puree

1/3 cup maple syrup

¼ cup honey

2 Tbsp. Canola oil

Dried Fruits:

1 cup apricots chopped into pieces

1/2 cup cranberry

Preheat the oven to 170°C.

Combine all the 'dry ingredients' in a large bowl and stir well to blend.

In a different bowl mix all the wet ingredients until well combined. Pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to combine well.

Spread the mixture evenly on baking tray and bake for about 40 - 60 minutes, or until golden. Give the granola a good stir every 10 minutes or so; this helps it to cook evenly.

When cool, mix in the dried fruits and transfer the granola into an airtight container. Serve with plain milk or plain yogurt.

A little note to remind myself when I make more granola next time:

* cut down on the fruit and nuts (it was not very proportionate to the oats etc)

* keep a closer eye on the oven as I over baked - I think I may have to be more diligent in stirring every 10 minutes / lower the temperature

* try making diabetic friendly granola by substituting sugar with Splenda and maple syrup / honey with something else so that mum can have it for breakfast too?

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:)
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