Granola and Muesli
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive new messages via email by subscribing using the form on the right side of the page. Thanks for visiting!
Gift of Homemade Muesli
Baked vs. Raw. Granola is a sweet, crunchy combination of baked rolled oats, nuts, and fruits. Muesli is an unbaked, unsweetened mixture of several kinds of rolled or flaked grains with nuts and fruits. Brand concoctions are often very expensive for very little substance! And, sometimes they seem to skimp on the fruit and nuts you like best. However, if you make a very big batch of either yourself, you should save money in the long run and get just what you want. To start, a best bulk buy is the large 2-bag box of Quaker Oats at Costco or other discount store, like Smart & Final.
Typical Granola. You can customize your granola and muesli to your liking. Granola lovers usually prefer old-fashioned rolled oats (not “quick” oats). To these, they add slivered almonds, walnuts, or cashews with coconut and brown sugar in the proportions they like. A tsp. of cinnamon and dash of ginger are optional. Add maple or rice syrup combined with an equal measure of oil and a bit of salt to the oat mixture. You can mush the mix together to make it clumpy, if you like. The mixture is then spread on 2 jelly roll pans, with or without parchment paper. Some people bake it at 250º for 75 minutes, turning frequently. Others bake it at 325º for 20 minutes. Most add raisins after the granola has cooled and store it in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Muesli Choices. Rolled oats are usually the predominant grain. Sometimes you have to go to health food stores (pricey), but check out ethnic produce markets for better prices to find other grains and ingredients. Options include: wheat flakes or bran, barley flakes, rolled tritacle (rye flakes), and quinoa flakes. Use what you find at the best price to learn what you like. Dried fruits could include any or all: raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, mangos, dates, prunes, apricots, and shredded coconut. Also, add seeds: flax, sunflower, even sesame. Include some nuts: walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts. I include a bit of Kosher salt in my mixtures, too. Stored in an airtight container, it will keep in the refrigerator or freezer beyond 2 weeks.
Ways to Enjoy. Granola goes a long way. Use it to top pudding or ice cream. It’s a great snack. Most people like it for breakfast with milk, soy milk, rice milk, or yogurt. It can even be served with hot milk. Allow it to become mushy! I’m not a big fan of just snacking on muesli. Pour milk over muesli and let it macerate in the refrigerator overnight for a yummy breakfast. You could also add milk to your muesli before microwaving it for 3-5 minutes for a hot breakfast.
Gourmet Cereal. Need an affordable and healthy gift for someone special? Make a batch of granola or muesli and present it in a pretty screw cap container. Save plastic and glass containers from pickles, mayonnaise, nuts, or biscotti for gift-giving. Especially if your recipient doesn’t get to indulge much in fancy treats, this gift will be all the more appreciated. Hand print or use your computer to fashion a label with a list of ingredients and suggested ways to serve. Your thoughtful gift will be enjoyed and may spur your friend to make more, when it runs out! Make it a once-in-awhile treat for family, too.
