Granola Girl

Ever since I started picking up bags of granola during my Eastern Market runs--first the locally-made Randy's Original Granola, then the organic granola from Hampshire Farms--I've been preoccupied with the idea of making my own. I've taken, recently, to starting out my day with a bowl of non- or low-fat organic vanilla yogurt topped with a handful of granola. It's an easy post-workout breakfast, and pretty nutritious to boot.

Once again adapting a recipe from Epicurious, I set out to make my own granola. I started with some organic oatmeal from Hampshire Farms, and combined it with local and/or organic products, including local honey from a gentleman running a stand at Eastern Market in Detroit; golden raisins, dried apricots, and slivered almonds from Western Market in Ferndale; and flaxseeds from Bob's Red Mill, known for its full line of natural and certified organic products.

Homemade Granola (adapted from Real Food for Healthy Kids, July 2008, via epicurious.com)

1/2 c. walnut oil

1/3 c. maple syrup or honey

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 c. organic oatmeal

1/4 c. flaxseeds

1 c. chopped dried apricots

1 c. golden raisins

1 c. slivered almonds, toasted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the walnut oil, maple syrup or honey, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large bowl. If using honey that has crystallized, place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until honey has melted and loosened.

Stir in oatmeal and flaxseeds until evenly combined. Spread out onto a parchment paper-lined sheet pan and bake 25 minutes until golden, stirring once with a spatula about halfway through. Let cool in the pan--the mixture will crisp as it cools. Add the apricots, raisins, and almonds and toss together. Makes approximately 8 cups of granola.

Flaxseeds contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which protect bone health while providing protection against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Dried apricots are full of beta carotene and dietary fiber, while raisins are high in fiber, antioxidants, and calcium. Similar to olive oil, almonds contain important monounsaturated fats which are associated with reduced risk of heart disease (Sources: http://www.whfoods.com/, http://healthmad.com/).

For more information on Randy's Granola, visit http://www.randysgranola.com/