My daughter used to call it "granilla" when she was three. So that's actually what we call it around here. Funny how those things stick. I remember watching my grandmother make granola when I was little. I am aware that this little bit of nostalgia might make some people giggle, as it's possibly something that identifies me as being from California, or having hippies for parents. But you took the time to read this recipe, so don't pretend that you are not a little bit hippie too. What I will say about granola is that it is easy to make, and there are endless possibilities for which flavors to add. It's basically a dried up bowl of oatmeal, so it's up to you to make it your way. I like this one though. It is full of nuts and spices, and the molasses and maple syrup give the perfect sweetness for a bowl of cereal, yogurt parfait, or topping for ice cream.
So while you are waiting for your granola to bake, here are a few hippie thoughts to inspire your creation...dude:
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.-Alan Watts
You're either on the bus or off the bus.-Ken Kesey
Like a true nature's child, we were born, born to be wild.-Steppenwolf
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect.-Mark Twain
All I'm gonna do is just go on and do what I feel.-Jimi Hendrix
Masses are always breeding grounds of psychic epidemics. -Carl Jung
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight.-Bob Marley
And of course...."Make Love Not War," "Don't let the man keep you down," and "Watch the fro."
Put the following ingredients in a very large mixing vessel (I use my biggest stock pot)
8 cups of old fashioned oats
2 cups of pecan meal (or pecans ground in a food processor)
1 cup of coarsely chopped or whole pecans
2 cups of sliced almonds
1 cup of sunflower seeds (roasted and salted)
2 cups of unsweetened dried shredded coconut (small shred)
Add the following spices and mix into dry ingredients
1 Tbs ground mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice
1/2 Tbs cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 TBS sucanat (or brown sugar if you can't find sucanat)
Mix the following ingredients in a separate bowl or jug, then pour over dry ingredients and mix until all dry ingredients are coated well. (If you like to have more clusters in your granola, then increase the molasses and maple syrup to one cup each)
3/4 cup blackstrap molasses
3/4 cup real maple syrup
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup peanut oil
Spread out on three 12" x 17" jelly-roll style baking sheets and place one-at-a-time in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes. Take out and stir, then put back in for another 15 minutes. It will still be moist when you take it out of the oven. Stir once more to dislodge from pan and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. You can also add dried fruits or flax seeds at this time.
And of course, don't forget your cup of tea:
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