Make your own Granola Extra

It probably wasn’t a big surprise as most of us expected it. But still, when it was announced that another 2 weeks would be added to the Movement Control Order (MCO), it seemed like a lifetime sentence.

I know, I know. I’m feeling pretty restless myself. Keeping myself busy by pottering in the garden and trying different options in the kitchen.

In fact, it feels like we are eating healthier! Less take-out food, more cooking and baking, and I’m using up whatever ingredients I have at home and making the most of things.

Bread is being polished off the shelves as soon as it hits the stores. So, for a change, instead of bread for breakfast, try making your own granola.

My recipe is a revised version of the ones you can easily find on the Internet. I used dried orange peel, as I had some in the fridge as well as the last bits of some dried blackberries I found. But generally, dried apricot or large raisins or cranberries would be better. I call mine Granola Extra because apart from the basic rolled oats, raisin and nuts, I add in a whole lot of other ingredients so it packs a bunch of goodness.

It’s really up to you to add in all the seeds in this recipe, or you can omit some if you don’t have them. It doesn’t affect the outcome of the granola. Cut back on the sugar and salt, according to your own preference.

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups rolled oats (Instant oats don’t work. Trust me, I tried it. It doesn’t keep as long, and you don’t get a nice texture. And when you add milk, it becomes mushy real fast)

1 cup almonds (or walnuts/pecan), chopped chunky

1 cup dried fruits (suggested: cranberry, dried orange peel, raisin, sweetened ginger, pineapple, apricot)

1/2 cup desicated coconut (optional)

1/2 cup chia seed (optional)

1/2 cup sunflower seed

1/2 cup pumpkin seed (optional)

1/2 cup oil (something neutral like coconut oil, grapeseed or sunflower oil)

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger powder

Method

Heat up the oven to 150 degree Celcius in preparation.

In a separate container, whisk the sugar, oil and honey together until it is well-blended.

In a large bowl, add in all the dry ingredients (except the dried fruit) and mix together with a large wooden spoon.

Pour honey mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir everything together. Ensure everything, as much as possible, is coated with the syrup.

On a large baking tray, spread out the granola evenly. I like to use a baking sheet beneath as it makes it easier to wash.

Bake for about 15 minutes and then remove from the oven and mix the granola around so that the bottom half gets baked evenly. Repeat the process for about one hour and 15 minutes. (15mins x 5)

Remove from the oven and mix in the dried fruit. Or you can add in the fruits just before the last 15 minutes, if you prefer drier results.

Let it cool down before storing your precious Granola Extra. You can have it for breakfast, munch on a bowl as a snack instead of potato crisps, or sprinkle it on top of your ice cream or smoothie!