A former co-worker confided that she felt my husband had a legitimate phobia
"One who is scared of "hippies" and all things related to granola." she explained
She donned him....... A Hippie-phobe
Let me explain:
10 years ago he:
Thought Taco Bell was Mexican food
Heard the word "organic" and only thought of it in terms of chemical bonds
Had never stepped into a Trader Joes because it was "hippie food"
These are only a few examples. I think you get the idea.
Fast forward to this morning when I was packing his lunch.
Per his request I included:
Carrots and garlic hummus.
Greek yogurt with my homemade granola
That's right.... GRAN-OLA folks
I'll digress for a moment to share with you a joke the pastor told at our wedding.
Mr. Pastor to the crowd: "The first thing a bride sees on her wedding day is...
the AISLE...
Then, she looks up and sees...
the ALTAR....
and then finally...her eyes focus on.....
HIM....
he continues...."she thinks....AISLE, ALTAR, HIM...AISLE, ALTAR,HIM...
I'LL ...ALTER...HIM.....I"LL ALTER HIM"
Brilliant!
Now, of course he goes on to tell how we shouldn't try and change our spouse....and truthfully, there aren't too many things I'd "alter" in my hubby...however, his food choices were something I was hoping we'd alter a bit....and looky looky after only 5 years of marriage, he's eating hummus and granola.
Back to the recipe.
The first time I tasted this granola was over this past Thanksgiving when his cousin made it.
It was FANTASTIC. I asked her where she got the recipe and guess what???
It was from my FAVORITE cookbook...
...wait for it....wait for it...
Yep, that's right, Earthbound Farms "Food to Live By"---Remember The Beef Noodle Bowl....or the Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps?
This recipe is straight out of the book, page 278.
Really fun to make with the kids and SUPER tasty eaten plain, as cereal, or in your yogurt!
Maple Almond Granola
18 oz old fashioned rolled oats (NOT INSTANT)
3/4 cup shelled, raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
1 1/2 cup slivered raw almonds
2 TBS ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups PURE MAPLE SYRUP, Grade A Dark Amber
Pause
I know you are thinking, What the hell is the difference? Can't I use Mrs Butterworth?
Don't Do it
Buy the real deal
It IS expensive (I paid $22.00 for 24 oz)
Get over it
It's worth it once you taste how good this is
A tidbit from the cookbook, " Grad A Dark Amber has a dark color with a strong maple flavor. It is usually made later in the season, when the days get longer and warmer"
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 325
Place the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and cinnamon in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the maple syrup and oil and stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened
Spread the granola on baking sheet and bake the granola until it begins to brown, about 25 minutes
Stir it with a flat spatula
Let the granola continue to bake until it is light golden, brown, dry, and fragrant, about 20 minutes longer
Stir it atleast once more as it bakes and watch it carefully because it can burn quickly at the end.
Cool the granola and the add the raisins; Stir to combine
It makes ALOT. But you can store it at room temperature for up to 1 month or frozen for up to 6 months.
Serve the grandola stright from the freezer, it doesn't get hard and it thaws almost instantly--just pour on some milk.
Voila!
Hippie-phobia cured!
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