Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Road Trip Granola

This morning I had the most lovely breakfast. I was up early, watching the morning sunlight stream into the kitchen and thinking about the day ahead: breakfast, coffee, revisions, revisions; coffee, lunch, revisions, revisions; yoga, dinner, revisions, revisions. Yes, crunch time has begun.

The granola in my bowl this morning was another batch made from a recipe I first tried a couple of months ago. I christened it Road Trip Granola after packaging up a bag to send along with friends Ursula and Chris as they drove slowly but surely from San Francisco to New York.

I am pretty sure the granola kept them alive while they maneuvered snow and ice, RV villages, truck stops, and Wal-Marts all across America. Now it sustains me through sunny San Francisco days; maybe it will sustain you too?

P.S. This granola is so good (spicy, sweet, even a tad salty) that it is perfect not only for breakfast but as a mid-afternoon snack, or, even dessert while reading or movie viewing. Just watch out for little oaty crumbs; they will stick to your fingers and the front of your shirt.

Road Trip Granola aka Maple Granola from MS Living February 2010. Makes 7 cups. 
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried unsweetened coconut chips
1 cup pecans or walnuts, quartered
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I used a scant 1/4 cup and it turned out fine)
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar (I used 1/4 cup because I didn't want it too sweet. It was perfect!)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 teaspoon coarse salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup golden raisins
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix together oats, coconut, nuts, syrup, oil, sugar, sesame seeds, salt, and nutmeg. Spread granola in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring every 10 minutes, for 40 minutes. Add raisins, and bake until granola is toasted, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I have been thinking about making my own granola for months now! i need to try this.

Bryan said...

Oh I am about to hit the road with my kiddos, granola might just be the thing that keeps them in their place. Thanks

Bryan said...

I am about to hit the road with my kiddos. Granola might be just the thing to keep them calm... Thanks

Sprouted Kitchen said...

what a lovely package! I am going to do that next time a loved one heads away on a trip. So cute!

Unknown said...

This recipe rocks! I used 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, 14/ tsp of cinnamon, omitted the sesame seeds and raisins. I could not find coconut chips so I just used unsweetened coconut flakes. Look forward to using this on a regular basis and stop my trips to Whole Foods just for granola purchase! Thank you! Andrea

Unknown said...

This recipe rocks! I used 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, 14/ tsp of cinnamon, omitted the sesame seeds and raisins. I could not find coconut chips so I just used unsweetened coconut flakes. Look forward to using this on a regular basis and stop my trips to Whole Foods just for granola purchase! Thank you! Andrea

Anne Zimmerman said...

So glad you like it! I'm thinking making more granola might be on my Monday holiday agenda. I think it's essential to have in the house!