Thursday, April 7, 2011

Oats n Raisins Granola

OATS.

It isn't so bad.

Not when served with a giant slab of butter, a good glug of rich maple syrup, and generous sprinkling of brown sugar.

Or when topped with browned butter and caramelized bananas.

With cinnamon-baked apples and whipped cream.

Berries, orange zest and heaped spoonfuls of vanilla sugar.

See, told ya. Not so bad.

But sadly, not one of these delicious tricks work when you are on a diet. And I was sick to puking with force-feeding myself bowls of boring porridge day after day. You know, fat-burning food, full of goodness, keeps your tummy full all morning...in short, your basic healthy, diet-worthy, unavoidable  nightmare.

God, I have a bone to pick with you. Why, oh, why did it take you SO long to plant the thought of GRANOLA in my head?


It's baked oats. It's tasty. Crunchy. Healthy. Have it with milk in the morning. Sneak mouthfuls of it in the subway. Top up your fruit and yogurt for dessert at night. Wake up to a rumbling tummy at midnight and stuff your face again. It's good for you. You know, fat-burning food, full of goodness, keeps your tummy full... in short, the diet-food of your dreams.

Enough said.  Let's get baking.





Oats 'n Raisins Granola

(Recipe adapted from JoytheBaker)

2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup slivered raw almonds

3/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberry)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

A pinch of salt

1 and a 1/2 tablespoons butter

1/8 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farentheit. Line baking sheet with parchment paper

2.Whisk together oats, slivered almonds, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

3.Melt together butter, oil, honey and brown sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture begins to boil.    Take off the heat and add vanilla extract. Pour the warm mixture over the oat mixture and toss together to  ensure the entire mixture gets moistened by the sugar and oil syrup.

4.Spread onto prepared baking sheet and bake for about 20 to 35 minutes,  making sure to stir the oats every  ten minutes. Remove from the oven, add raisins and other dried fruit, let cool and store in an airtight container.

[This is not so much a recipe, as an idea for a recipe. Add whatever you might wish to add to the oat mixture - raisins, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, flax seeds- let your imagination run riot! :) ] 

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for the lovely comments Jyothi.... you too have an amazing blog....all the recipes are unique and looks yummy!!!
    BTW please give me tips to loose some pounds....summers approaching :(

    Ankita
    http://eat-hearty.blogspot.com/

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  2. Thanks for dropping by Jyothi....
    i found your blog this way and it's a wonderful place i must say.

    I love this recipe of granola and i know they turn out yummm...BTW i was writing about an oats and nuts cookie right now , a recipe which is waiting in the drafts for over a year :)

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  3. @ Ankita: Thank you- for the comments, and for following me as well! :) And keep coming back for more recipes ( and tips as well!) *sly smile*

    @sangeeta: Thank you so much for dropping by. Will definitely check out the cookie recipe in your blog. Its a favourite at home, and i'm forever looking for oatmeal cookie variations! :)

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  4. This homemade granola looks awesome. Nice way to start the day.

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  5. Dear Jyothi,

    Lovely blog. I am trying to follow it but somehow the follow button does not allow me to do so. I tried it 2-3 times, dunno whats wrong with google.

    I just loved all the recipes.

    Have a great day ahead.

    regards

    Shiva

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  6. @ girl vs fat: it is like muesli and you can have it like muesli-with milk-for breakfast! Thanks for coming by!

    @shiva: Oh no! The follow button works for me... maybe it was just a temporary glitch.. do try again! :) Keep coming back for more! :)

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  7. Love this idea. Raisins are my favorite natural candies.

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