Crunchy Apple Pie Granola
I look through the grocery store options of granola and it’s aways a bit of a toss-up - sugar or more sugar. There are some whole-foods options out there, like Nature’s Path cereals, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could just make granola at home? Look no further! This is not the type of granola that ends up in bars, but you can use this recipe to make the Granola Bits recipe that is a little more portable. I have a tendency to add a mixture of almonds and walnuts, various dried fruit, all types of seeds, and of course ground flax.
Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 tsp apple pie spice (or a combo of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Preheat over to 325F. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, and spice. Liquefy honey in a small pan over low heat (or melt in glass in heating oven). Pour over granola mixture and stir until well combined. Evenly spread granola on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden, stirring halfway through baking. Stir in dried cranberries and cool to room temperature before storing.
Adapted from Epicure Selections Magazine
Nutritional Value of Select Ingredients
Oats – This grain is a great source of complex carbs, and is high in protein and fibre. They can help normalize blood sugar levels, and are good for a sluggish thyroid. Oats are high in tryptophan, iron, and phytochemicals.
Almonds – Almonds are called the king of nuts because they are high in calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, folic acid, EFA’s, and protein. Loaded with phytonutrients, they are called the anti-cancer nut.
Sunflower Seeds – These seeds are great for those with high blood pressure, as they are very high in potassium and very low in sodium. They are high in protein, fibre, B vitamins, and vitamin E.
Honey – This is a natural sweetener that contains vitamins, minerals, and propolis. It is a great source of magnesium. A whole food, honey is an excellent replacement for brown or white cane sugar, which is detrimental to our health. Any sweetener, though, should be eaten in moderation, but when you do need to sweeten, try honey instead.
Cranberries – Great for the kidneys, bladder, and skin, these tart berries are full of vitamin C, fibre, calcium, iron, and other minerals; and phytonutrients like beta-carotene and quercetin. They are useful in the treatment of asthma, cystitis, kidney stones, and bladder stones.
