HomeMade Granola

I am sure I have mentioned somewhere that I am lazy. I hate going out "last minute" to get ingredients if I can avoid it. This has led to some cooking disasters (no, olive oil can NOT be substituted for vegetable oil in a cake mix) but some good "aha" moments (melted butter instead of said vegetable oil makes a decadent cake mix cake).

This granola recipe was the result of whatever I happened to have in the pantry today.

I have been toying with the idea of home-made granola for a few reasons: I have a canister of Quick-Cook Rolled Oats that I never use (I tried, but I hate hot slimy oatmeal, sorry), and I don't like the fat/sugar content of most packaged granola. All of the granola recipes I looked at called for oats, but specified "not the quick-cook" ...I kind of wondered why*...and 3 tablespoons to 1 cup (!!!!) of canola oil... I went for the lesser amount. (*I used "quick cook" and it was fine) Also I am trying to cool it with my sugar consumption (more on my sugar detox here), so I used Splenda and some honey to sweeten it up a little.

granola before putting in the oven to bake

here it is after taking out of oven and mixing in cranberries...yummy!

Here is the result and it is very tasty. You can change it up almost anyway you like, using Agave syrup, brown sugar, honey, or even maple syrup for the sweetener instead of the Splenda would probably work great.

Ann's Pantry Sugar-Free Granola Recipe:

3 cups rolled oats*

3/4 cup nuts (whatever you have; I used cashews)

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 packets of Splenda

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup dried fruits..I used dried cranberries 'cause that's what I had (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place rack in the center of the oven. Line baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with Pam. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients except dried fruit; use your hands its easier.

Spread onto the sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, then toss it so the mixture browns evenly. Bake another 10-15 minutes, or until it is golden. Break up large clumps of granola while the mixture is still warm. Cool completely. Now add the fruit. (You will notice that the granola may still be sticky when it is removed from the oven but it will become crisp and dry as it cools.)  Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It will keep for about 2 weeks.

Makes about 5 cups.

Sugar-Free

I was inspired by a post on Clover Lane--to see if I could quit sugar. Sarah has done a great job with her Sugar-Detoxing Guide.

me. quit. sugar.

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Now, some background: I'm a life-long weight-watcher. Lost 33 lbs 7 years ago, gained a few back, but not bad. I still fit into my goal-size pants. Most of my bad habits, including bingeing, waiting till everyone was asleep to systemactically raid the halloween/easter/valentine's day stash, having zero breakfast and lunch but pigging out at dinner, and hiding food to eat later-- well, those horrible ways(thank goodness) for the most part got banished by WeightWatchers, which is great.

However, I have been known to consider pudding as a it's own food group, and ice cream as a nutritional supplement. I have elevated eating valentine's day see's candy heart to a science, start with the truffles, move on to the fruity-chewies, end with the nuts..begin again.... I had a full-blown celebration when the news broke that dark chocolate is good for you! I told you so!

But.

Lately, I'd been experiencing some strong cravings...for sugary stuff. Not just chocolate, anything sugary. I realized I was like a clock: after breakfast, I wanted something "sweet"..and nothing other than a sugary treat would do. After lunch, same thing. By 4pm, I'd be cooking dinner haphazardly(do you think hubs will notice we're having tacos 3 nights in a row? nah...), while meticulously plotting out what I'd have for dessert afterwards (mmmm....that banana-mocha-cream pie Emeril made doesn't look that complicated) When we attended a party a couple of weeks ago, the host asked us to bring some wine. I brought wine, along with 2 desserts, stashing cookies away for "later". I knew right then I had a problem.

So the very next day, I decided to go sugar free. It has not been without lapse; Saturday night, I had a small slice of apple pie, and I ate some honey and peanut butter on a cracker one night. However, the past 2 weeks' victories were amazing to me: On Mother's Day. which included grandma's birthday, I passed on home-made biscotti and red-velvet birthday cake. Didn't even want any! Huh? On Friday, my daughter brought home 300 chocolate candy bars to sell for a fundraiser. I DID NOT EVEN TASTE ANY. And they are the good ones. And they cost only 1.00 apiece(anyone want to buy a chocolate bar? it's for a good cause) They are sitting on my kitchen counter as we speak, and no, they are not taunting me one bit.

I don't know, maybe it's about me proving to myself that I actually do possess willpower, and I can do anything (just about) that I set my mind to. Also I was worried that I was addicted. I've read accounts of people having migraines, losing sleep, not having an ounce of energy..but honestly, I've been fine. Just this weekend I was a little headachey, but I think it was because of my monthly bill, not because I quit eating sugar.

I'm not planning to be sugar free forever, but I'm glad I am able to stop, if even for a week, a day, 2 weeks! I plan on doing this for as long as I feel I need to, but for at least 21 days which is the magic number of days needed to "break a habit".

So, if you've been thinking about it, give it a try. If I can do it, so can you, trust me. I've ordered the book "Sugar Blues" and will read it and let you know what I think of it.

Ann