Kids love it....

Peanut Butter Granola

Melt together (I melt it in a glass bowl in the microwave large enough to add the remaining ingredients):
2 T. butter
1/3 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. honey

Add:
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt

Add and mix well:
3 c. oatmeal
(I'm sure chia seeds and sliced almonds could also be added.)

Spread on baking sheet. Bake 325-degrees F for 10-15 minutes, or until it begins to brown nicely. It can burn easily, so keep an eye on it.

-Grainlady

Grainlady, I've got to try that recipe. It sounds delicious. I use Alton Brown's granola recipe but adapt it to our preferences. I never use coconut because my husband doesn't like the texture. And I don't use cashews because they're too expensive. Instead I used sliced and slivered almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds -- enough to measure 2-1/2 cups of nuts/seeds total. I always add 1-2 tsp. of vanilla. Depending on my mood, I may also add 1-2 tsp. of cinnamon or apple pie spice or a tsp. of maple extract. I never add dried fruit to it either.

Lately I've been following the Cook's Illustrated technique (not recipe) for granola chunks. It's so easy but results in gigantic chunks that we use for snacks rather than breakfast cereal. You line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper and dump the wet, unbaked granola mixture in it. Then you use a spatula to press down the mixture, kind-of like you were making a gigantic granola bar. You bake it at 325 for 35-45 minutes without any stirring. (I usually bake mine longer because we both like our granola really toasty.) When the granola looks toasty enough for you, take it out of the oven, and let the pan cool on a rack for about an hour. Then just lift up sections and break the granola "bar" into chunks. Big or small -- it's up to you. I love the super toasty chunks as an afternoon snack. I just pile a few on a napkin and munch away.

Granola
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Serves: 6 servings

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt (I omit)
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (I follow the CI instructions for baking).

In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans (I use only one pan, pressing the mixture down). Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.

Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

I made the Peanut Butter granola and liked it very much! Thank you Grainlady for reposting this recipe. I did find at 325 it needed quite a bit more time, or should that be 425 ?

iris gal-

It should be 350-degrees (engage brain before moving fingers...). I had two other recipes sitting out when I was typing and must have glanced at the wrong one.

I have the ingredients mixed up to make a recipe of "Clumpy Granola" (which was also based on Alton Brown's recipe) for someone in hubby's office who is leaving this week who loved the stuff. We found a beautiful container to put it in. Hubby has taken a batch out to work several times. Bless (ten-fold) whoever posted the recipe last fall when we had a thread about granola recipes because I've made the recipe at least 10-times since.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Clumpy Granola

That "clumpy granola" link that Grainlady posted is one of my "go to" granolas. I have totally included wheat germ as a sub for some of the nuts, and it was not noticabley "wheat germy." :) I have also sometimes included rice cereal or Grape Nuts type cereals as a sub for some of the nuts.

I make this maple granola, courtesy of gardengrl (Kathy). It does call for wheat germ, which I don't really notice in here. I leave out the coconut, simply because I seldom have any. The raisins could also be omitted, maybe sub those with cereal like mini-wheat biscuits or Cheerios. Ashley doesn't like dried cranberries/raisins/cherries/ etc., but she does like dried apple chips and banana chips, so maybe that's an option for your kids.

Anyway, it's very good, I love nearly anything with maple syrup in it.

MAPLE GRANOLA (from gardengrl)

7 cups thick oat flakes (rolled oats), uncooked
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup almonds, sliced or broken up
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped or broken up
1 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup raisins
additional dried fruit/nuts as desired
In a very large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Pour over dry mixture in bowl, stirring and tossing till everything is very well combined (your bare hands are the best tools for this step).

Spread granola on a couple of large, ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 250�F oven for 2 hours, tossing mixture every 15 minutes or so. Remove pans from oven and cool completely. Transfer granola to a large bowl, and mix in raisins and any additional dried fruit desired -- dates, figs, currants, dried cranberries or blueberries, etc. Store in a tightly closed container at room temperature.

Annie

Sound yummy! Thanks a lot.

Thanks Grainlady - I am also enjoying the QUINOA AND MANGO SALAD you posted. Not to mention all the info on grains you provide!