Homemade granola is a versatile and healthy breakfast cereal that can be enjoyed hot or cold. It can be made with a variety of grains, nuts, seeds, and sweeteners, and can be cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. Adding cinnamon can improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels. It can also be eaten as a snack or dessert.
Homemade muesli is a healthy breakfast cereal with a great taste that can be enjoyed both hot and cold. There are as many variations of homemade granola as there are palates. There are no rules about what can or can’t be added to this breakfast favorite.
To make granola, start with good, healthy, organic cold-pressed oil. A combination of safflower and ghee are good options. Rapeseed or sunflower oils serve as good alternatives. Olive oil is a bit heavy for this recipe, but when used in combination with another oil or ghee, it’s always an excellent choice.
Homemade granola can be sautéed in a large or electric pan or cooked in an oven to reduce the amount of oil needed. However, if you use healthy, organic cold-pressed oils, it should count as a healthy meal either way. Baking your own granola will also cut calories.
If you prepare your homemade granola on a stovetop, a cast iron skillet is always an excellent choice. Cast iron has been used for cooking for centuries. The constant and even distribution of heat makes cast iron excellent for easy cooking. For people with anemia, a small amount of iron has been found to be leached into any food cooked in it.
The main grain of homemade granola is usually rolled oats. Barley, bran, rice, wheat, wheat germ or quinoa can be included for a milder taste. Healthy nuts and seeds, such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, black sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds give it a great nutty flavor while boosting protein levels. Raisins and other dried fruits like dried cranberries, bananas, and apricots look great in this cereal.
Homemade granola can be seasoned and sweetened with cinnamon, cardamom, brown sugar, coconut, vanilla and honey. Holistic dietitians believe honey should not be heated beyond the liquidation point as it strips away the healing properties and becomes toxic. Therefore, honey should be added at the end of the cooking process.
Several studies indicate that cinnamon improves blood glucose and cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetics. Adding cinnamon to any sugar-sweetened food is also thought to help balance out the effect of sugar on the system.
Warm milk added to homemade granola is a great way to turn it into a warm winter favorite. Cream sauces can be substituted by making light cream (Neufchatel), heavy or whipping cream, a sweetener such as cinnamon, powdered sugar, honey, or your favorite fruit juice to add a light glaze.
Homemade granola can also be eaten dry as a trail mix. It’s a good source of quick energy, similar to a power bar. As a snack, it is often mixed or topped with yogurt. As a dessert, it can be enjoyed as a topping for a crunchy fruit.
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