Floor Granola

And then I saw it happen. The lid came off, the granola went flying, and all I could do was stare (briefly, because I was also driving down the freeway), and think of every curse word I knew. An extensive list, for the record.

Ah, yes. The infamous Floor Granola.

The Floor Granola Week was a long week. I had just come off a bachelorette party in Tahoe, had a cold, and had some big meetings scheduled. I had a couple nights at home, and in an effort to soak in all the comforts of home that I could, I decided to make granola and trail mix to take with me on the road. They’re easy, healthy snacks, and I get to be in the kitchen a little. Good intentions, messy results…

When I first went to make homemade granola I of course searched Pinterest. I found and used the above image as my guide, and continue to follow it whenever I make granola. I typically like to make trail mix at the same time because whatever is left over from granola goes into the container for trail mix. When I’m planning on making granola and trail mix, I schedule some time to go to a store with bulk containers. There is usually a larger selection and it is far cheaper (honestly, Winco is da bomb for bulk nuts and dried fruits, check it out). Below are the ingredients I use, and little notes I’ve learned along the way.

Ingredients for granola:

• Oatmeal
• Maple syrup (I’ve used honey before, and personally didn’t like the taste as much)
• Butter
• Coconut flakes
• Raw cashews
• Roasted almonds
• Golden raisins (I prefer these to cranberries, because I can never find cranberries without added sugar)
• Cinnamon
• Pistachios
• Raw sunflower seeds
• I also usually add dried apricots, I think I opted out because I had other dried fruits, but still always a great addition.

Steps:

1. Mix oatmeal, sweetener, and oil together (I will add more maple syrup or butter to make sure all the oatmeal is covered and moistened).
2. Add in the unroasted nuts.
3. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, and spread the mixture out onto it.
4. Bake at 275 degrees . The sheet above says to stir often, but I leave it alone and don’t necessarily stir it.
5. Let it bake for 40-45 minutes. This is where I messed up last time I made it. It didn’t appear as though it was clumping, so I kept baking it. However, once you pull it out of the oven and let it cool, it will start to clump up. Lesson learned! My oven runs hot, so next time I make it I’ll pull it out at 35-40 minutes and let it rest to clump together.
6. Once it has cooled a bit, crunch it up, and throw it in your container (container with a TIGHT lid).
7. Then, add your other goodies. I love that when you make homemade granola and trail mix, you can customize it to what you love. Nothing left over at the end (like the typical trail mix raisins).
8. Put the lid on , and shake it up.
9. Wah-la ready to serve!

Additional notes:

If your granola does go flying across the car and onto the floor, just scoop it up and put it back in the container. Eat the granola off the passenger seat, and move on with your life. Don’t sweat the small stuff. A little dirt don’t hurt, and it all helps build your immunity. I think.

Ingredients for trail mix:

• Banana chips
• Roasted almonds
• Coconut flakes
• Pistachios
• Raw cashews
• Brazil nuts
• Raw sunflower seeds
• Golden raisins
• Dried figs

Steps:

1. Dump it all in a container (preferably one with a really tight lid)
2. Shake it up.
3. Eat!

Yum. I hope you enjoy both, and continue making your own instead of buying it pre-made! You get the ingredients you like, it’s healthier, and it’s fun to make (a great afternoon project if you have little ones). I love knowing what’s in my food, and being in touch with what I’m eating. I am constantly trying to find little things to create at home instead of buying pre-made. If you have any recipes or ideas, share ’em! I’d love to try them out. And hopefully not burn it…