Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Food Of The Gods... A Recipe



OK, chicks...

Today I'd like to talk about granola.
Not just any granola.

I'm talking about oneshabbychick's Homemade Granola.

How it came to be,
and how you can get some of your very own...

I first encountered this utter scrumptiousness years ago...
when a family friend brought a batch of this glorious stuff for a week at the beach...
and ever since then, I (and everybody else in that beach house) have been hooked.

I scribbled that recipe on a beach town grocery store receipt...
 and I have made it time and time again since...

I have tweaked the recipe a bit here and there over the years...
and I think I have hit the "sweet spot of granola".
At least I can't imagine it being any better.



The thing that I think is so special about this granola is
 it's made with rather everyday ingredients...


nothing terribly special on its own...
but mix them all together and toast them up in the oven...
and you have made something absolutely transcendent...
food of the gods, people.

And I have tried other granolas...
other homemade granolas, 
being sold at farmer's markets in cute little brown paper packages... 
for some ridiculous number of dollars per ounce...
or served in über-hip coffeehouses...

and I have not found a granola that I liked as much as
oneshabbychick's humble homemade granola.

So, I think this is your lucky day...
because you found this lil' ol' blog...
and this lil' ol' blog is gonna rock your granola world.
{ok, maybe not so humble after all}

 Here ya go.....




oneshabbychick's 
homemade granola

4 cups rolled oats 
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup raw cashews or other nuts
 dried fruit

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix together oats, almonds and coconut.

In a small bowl, whisk together oil, honey and salt until well-combined.

Add oil and honey mixture to dry ingredients and mix until evenly distributed - 
you want the dry ingredients to be well-coated.

Spread mixture evenly on an 18"x13" baking sheet (preferably non-stick) -
but you'll want to leave some clumps.

Spread the raw cashews out on top of the granola.

Bake until granola is a nice golden brown color - about 15 - 20 minutes - 
turning sheet halfway through so it bakes evenly. Do not stir.

Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 - 10 minutes.

Check granola to see if it has cooled enough to stay in clumps. 
When it has, use a spatula to separate the granola from the pan.

Sprinkle your favorite dried fruit over the top of your granola.

Cool completely, then scoop into your container of choice.



*****A word or two {or 50} about ingredients *****

This is a simple recipe...
 but I have found the quality of ingredients makes all the difference.

So....

I only use Quaker Oats.

I prefer unsweetened coconut, which can be hard to find...
 and I like the texture of big coconut "chips", which I buy in bulk from Nutty Guys.

The flavor of the honey has a big impact on the flavor of the granola. 
I experimented until I tried orange blossom honey. I search no longer...
It took my granola to the next level.

You can add whatever nuts or dried fruit float your boat. 
My favorite combo has cashews, 
Trader Joe's Golden Berry Blend (golden raisins, cherries, blueberries, cranberries),
and diced apricots I buy in bulk from Nutty Guys.

I like a good mix of sweet and tart...

But you get to add whatever you want!




Here is our granola jar...
it sits in our kitchen and crooks its crunchy finger at us...
and we are unable to resist...

this granola gets munched by the handful more than any other way, I think...

But the truly heavenly way to eat it is on top of some homemade yogurt...
{made with my favorite yogurt maker - and I have tried a few}

but you can have a similarly divine experience with Fage or another kind of Greek yogurt.




And there you have it.

I hope this granola makes you as happy as it makes me...


Yours in toasted, honey-coated goodness,

oneshabbychick



P.S.
Don't forget to enter... 




Sharing at...

Good Life WednesdaysSavvy Southern Style

Boogieboard CottageCraft DIY IdeasChic on a Shoestring Decorating

Stuff and Nonsense


Weekend Bloggy Readingeats and treats thursday

25 comments:

  1. I make a granola very similar to this and absolutely love it!

    I eat most of mine by the handful or in a bowl with milk poured over it...

    I have never thought of adding coconut though, I may just have to give that a try next time!

    Thanks!

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  2. Looks delicious, and so beautiful in that big glass jar. Thank you for the extra deets about the ingredients! I totally would have used all the wrong things if you hadn't done that and then I would have been all "What's she talkin' 'bout, Willis? That granola sucks." Don't you hate that?

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  3. This granola looks absolutely yummy ~ I will have to try it ;-)

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  4. I just made granola yesterday:)
    Your recipe sounds delicious and encourages me to try new combinations. I add ground ginger and cinnamon to mine (and a dash of cloves!) Granola is not low calorie, but it fuels me well into the afternoon.
    Thanks for the great post!

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  5. This looks really good..I Love homemade granola...
    Our local grocery stores now sells unsweetened coconut, but LOTS of on line companies also sell it..Amazon sells everything...I am going to make this because one of my sons likes a late night snack of cereal and this wold be so much better...

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  6. This looks and sounds delicious! Why have I never thought to make home made granola?! Where have I been?

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  7. @pamq - Oh, the coconut is sooo gooood. Try it!
    @Iris - Yes, i DO hate that, so i saved you the trouble, Arnold.
    @Jane - Mmm, that sounds good! I will have to get your recipe... maybe it will appear on a blog sometime, somewhere... ;-)
    @Janie - you're right, these days we can buy anything on-line! I just meant that, in my outdated, old-fashioned quest to find it in a store ;-) I have not had much luck. Thanks for the tip!
    @everybody - have fun with it!

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  8. I love me some granola and this recipe looks yummy! Thank you!

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  9. My husband is going to LOVE this!!

    This is PERFECT for my new linky party, Foodie Friday. Please stop on over and link up!

    Oh - and found you at Stuff and Nonsense!

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  10. i have been on the hunt for a great granola recipe for a couple of years now so i can't wait to give this one a try...looks delish! thanks for sharing at fridays unfolded.

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

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  11. I would love for you to share this homemade goodness at my new Eats and Treats party!!

    http://bargainhoot.com/2011/03/24/join-my-first-link-up-party-share-your-eats-treats/

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  12. Hi! I just popped in to say that you were featured on "Top Ten Fav Picks" at Boogieboard
    Cottage! Have a great weekend, Mary :O)

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  13. I just found your blog and am your newest follower. This granola looks so yummy! I will definitely have to try making it for my family and me. Thanks for the great blog and tips!!

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  14. Thanks, everyone, for all those nice comments... I'm glad you're liking this! Thank you so much, Mary, for featuring me again... Wowzers! I'm really flattered! xo ~ osc

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  15. We love granola too. I have a few recipes on my blog. My new favorite has some pure maple syrup in it. Yum. I agree, quality ingredients make all the difference. I do love to order from Nutty Guys. They are a local company but I'm lazy and love things shipped to my door! They had a half price sale a couple of weeks ago--what a deal!
    I will have to try the orange blossom honey. So many great tips.
    Thanks.

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  16. yummy. I love granola. Cute wreath in your blog header!

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  17. Sounds delicious, looks delicious and also looks doable...great ingredients.
    Holly
    504 Main

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  18. Oh, I just LOVE granola and this sounds amazing! I definitely think it will rock my granola world! LOL! Thanks so much for linking it up to Inspiration Friday!
    Vanessa

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  19. That looks delicious! We have a low fat granola that we fix often and love it.

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  20. YUM! Granola can be so addicting. Your recipe looks so delicious! :) Great photos too. :)

    Thank you so much for joining my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. Have fun finding a new blog friend or two, and I hope you'll visit me at Serenity Now again soon! :)

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  21. I am going to have to try this recipe. I love granola. Thanks for sharing this at WUW.

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  22. Hi! I wanted to let you know that this AMAZING granola was featured at Foodie Friday. Pop on over to pick up your button!!

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  23. That granola looks beyond yummy! I'm going to be saving this recipe for sure!

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  24. We love granola around here, and I've tried a lot of different recipes. I will definitely be trying this one. Thanks for sharing. I love your header, by-the-way, very charming! I'm a new follower & hope you might stop by my blog and follow back.
    CAS

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  25. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to wait until the weekend to try this! De-Lish!!!

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