Monday, January 11, 2010

Southern Girl Granola

When I moved to the West Coast, I found myself using the word "granola" to describe most people, places and things I encountered. Well, it's come time to eat my words.

Lately, whenever I have a free afternoon, I find myself making the "crunchy" treat. The whole process is so relaxing and rewarding, and it fills my apartment with the most wonderful smell. This recipe has just the right balance of salty and sweet and enough pecans to make a southern girl happy. It's perfect with Greek yogurt or in handfuls every time you walk through the kitchen.

Southern Girl Granola
Recipe adapted from Early Bird Foods' Farmhand's Choice Granola

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, hulled
1 cup coconut chips
3/4 dried cranberries
2 cups raw pecans, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup pure maple syrup, preferably Grade A
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
Coarse salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place oats, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, coconut, pecans, syrup, olive oil, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Spread granola mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, stirring every 10 minutes, until granola is toasted, about 50 minutes. Remove granola from oven and season with salt. Makes about 7 cups. Let cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

14 comments:

  1. i've ALWAYS wanted to make homemade granola.. always. and now using this recipe i will!!

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  2. mm granola. i make my own every now and then...but it is dangerous because i tend to eat it all up within a couple days.

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  3. i tell my fiance he's turning into a crunchy, crunchy granola man (he loves to backpack and mountain bike).

    this looks delicious, i like how it's not too cluster-y.

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  4. sounds so delish. and yes, a southern girl has to have pecans.

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  5. Nothing tastier for breakfast (or snacks) than homemade granola!

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  6. you had me at greek yogurt... what a perfect breakfast!

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  7. mmmm that looks good. i bought a baggy of some granola the other day. i've been sprinkling it on breakfast food like crazy!

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  8. This looks delicious! I'll have to give it a try. I'm a HUGE plain yogurt+granola fan. Thanks! XO!

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  9. This sounds delicious, always looking for a way to mix it up!

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  10. I burned an non recipe version, using honey. We ate it anyway, too many good pecans to waste it.

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  11. I love granola! And this one looks so yummy. thanks!

    Oh, and what a lovely site you have here.

    andyquirks.blogspot.com

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  12. I made some granola this week too; different recipe though. Maybe I'll find time to blog about it. This looks really yummy.

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  13. I've been craving granola. I think it is a January thing. Yours looks perfect!

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  14. I just made granola this weekend. Yours looks pretty awesome.

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