Sunday, August 17, 2008

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Granola

What a grand August weekend it was! I'm surprised how close to perfect it played out. I did nothing fabulous. Nothing newsworthy. Really nothing noteworthy, except for the things that I love and a few things to make next week a little easier. I never stepped one foot in a car. Everything happened right around my own house. It was all simple and homey and in the end, just what I needed.
Here's what I did:
I ran 7 miles Saturday morning, finished off a great novel sent to me from my friend Gigi, swam laps in the pool very slowly while pretending to be Michael Phelps, made summer themed sugar cookies with my little charges, attended church, broke up 376 meaningless arguments, sewed the beginning of Sailor's Halloween costume (Belle), cooked tons of great food for this week's posts, baked wheat bread, made lesson plans for the coming week plus graded a few papers, caught up on my phone calls to a few of my sisters, and had dinner guests and impromptu breakfast guests. Guess who did the laundry and cleaned the bathrooms? Quiet Man. And that after mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds, and working on his doctorate classes. I almost didn't even notice to say thanks, so I'm saying it again now. Thank you. Again. Folks, here's what to have for breakfast on a perfect weekend or weekday morning. Homemade crunchy granola just can not be beat. We've all been munching on it like mad. It's cheap to make, so good for you, and is absolutely outstanding with some yogurt and fresh fruit. I've got one more reason you should make up a batch: I'm using my homemade granola in our Tuesday with Dorie cookie. See ya then.
Money Saving Tips: Homemade granola is already so much cheaper than the store bought variety, plus you can customize it according to what you already have on hand. I love to make granola when I have just a few nuts left at the bottom of a couple different bags. I'll use just about any kind. If you can't find wheat germ at a good price, just use extra oatmeal.
Homemade Brown Sugar Cinnamon Granola
Estimated Cost: $3.50
Notes: I didn't have any wheat germ on hand and my market was asking more than $5.00 for a jar, so I swapped it for some of my favorite high fiber cereal pictured below.
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup wheat germ (or additional oatmeal or high fiber cereal)
1 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
3/4 cup dried fruit, if desired, such as cranberries, raisins, etc.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and coat with no-stick cooking spray. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, oil, water and cinnamon. Bring just to a simmer. Meanwhile, place oats, wheat germ, and nuts on prepared baking sheet. Pour brown sugar mixture over the top and toss to coat. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring often, or until granola is crisp. Stir in dried fruit, if using.
*Brown Bag Lunch suggestion: Place a container of yogurt in the freezer. In the morning, pack up the frozen yogurt and a baggie of granola. By lunch time, the yogurt will be thawed but still cold and will make a lovely lunch with a sprinkle of the protein and fiber rich granola.
Coming First Light of Tuesday:
Tuesdays with Dorie
Brown Sugar, Pecan, and Chocolate Chip Granola Grabbers

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

This looks great! I think homemade granola is much better than store bought. I love that this has cinnamon in it. I'll have to add that to mine next time I make it.

Tanji said...

Dearest Prudy,
I'm struggling with a mixture of emotions in response to your post. Hunger (yummy granola &yogurt), awe (at your seemingly endless list of talents), happiness (that my beautiful & funny long lost friend is doing so well), and lots of envy and jelously-the happy kind :) (that you got sooo much done in one weekend - it would take me a month and I'm sure would include kids barfing or some other unplanned gross thing). Oh, and the running 7 miles??!!! Wow! Let's not even talk about that . . . . :) You're amazing!

Prudy said...

Tanj:
I've been thinking of you all week. Every day. I finally made the vegetable terrine recipe you gave me. Tanj-I seriously made it two nights in a row. I'm hooked. I bought everything to make it again. It's ridiculously good. I also made a peanut ginger slaw. I don't know if it's even close to the one you ate, but I think it's really really yummy. Oh, and please don't think I have any talents or abilities. Just a freakish amount of energy and sleeplessness. And don't you think you're running at least 10 a day chasing after your four charges? At least!
I wish you were near so we could spend the weekend chasing the kids together. Wouldn't that be the best? Please point your compass this way and land here.

La Bella Cooks said...

I love homemade granola, especially with cinnamon in it. Sounds like you had a fantastic weekend! Wow, I can only run 3 miles, but then it has been so hot, who wants to go more? I need to borrow your pool after!

gigi said...

My word, 7 miles?? Are you wonder woman or what? What a DH to do the yard and the laundry. Glad you got to do those things around your home that will make life easier next week and read a book too!
We really did enjoy the chicken salad, it had such a great flavor and nice little kick to it. Have a great week and a happy Monday!

JJ said...

Really? I am in awe! How you accomplish all you do I will never know! But selfishly love all the effort into food so I can reap the benefits of all the yummy recipes!

Tracy said...

Wow! That's quite a day! The granola looks great -- I don't think I've ever made my own granola

Anna M. said...

Thanks for the recipe, Prudy. My husband loves granola...so this will be a big treat for him! Also, glad you had such a wonderful weekend! =)

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I need to make some homemade granola.

You really need to get busy over the weekend instead of lounging around :)

Mary Ann said...

Prudy- once again what a great looking treat. I can't wait to see how your cookies turn out. I am throwing together some quick granola tomorrow and then making the cookies too. I have put it off til the last minute, but it has been a crazy birthday weekend. I am going to try this too.

Marie Rayner said...

mmm....tasty looking granola!!! I usually make my own as well, but for some bizarre reason found myself without any this week and without the ingredients to make some more! Granola with a scoop of Greek Yoghurt is my breakfast of choice!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I really should get back into my running- since my daughter was born last year I haven't really got around to it, but I must!! Your weekend sounded full - just like mine. I love it like that though, just like you. Im not good at sitting doing nothing. Even if Im watching TV I have to be doing exercises, much to hubbys annoyance!!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

It sounds like you had a lovely weekend. And way to go Quiet Man! I keep seeing granola everywhere, so I guess I have to try it sometime. I liked this recipe, I'm crazy about wheat germ (even if you didn't use it), it must give the granola such a nutty nice flavour!

Suzie said...

I have to try this - I am currently paying a fortune for a "designer" granola. What a great idea!

Anonymous said...

all that in a weekend? I'm tired just reading about it! the granola recipe looks wonderful, will have to try it!

Pamela said...

Obviously, you had an amazingly productive weekend. The granola looks so great! I've been wanting to try my hand at it, and this recipe looks yummy!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This breakfast looks so yummy and healthy. This is the kind of kick I need to get my family on. So glad you had a peaceful weekend, I am looking forward to this week and the recipes you worked on this past weekend.

Aggie said...

Happy Monday Prudy!

I envy your 7 mile run!! I'm working my way up to a mile! (used to be able to run 5...food blogging is motivating me to run again so I can eat more! : ) )

I love homemade granola. I love the flavors of yours and can't wait to give it a try. Glad you had a nice weekend and can't wait to see your goodies this week!

Deborah said...

Sounds like quite a productive weekend - way more than mine!! I've seen homemade granola on a few different blogs now - I'm feeling inspired!

Pam said...

Yum. My children just discovered granola and LOVE it. I am excited to make my own and your recipe looks perfect. Thanks!

Leah said...

Prudy, that sounds like the perfect weekend spent around home!! The granola looks amazing, I'm a big fan. I'll have to try this one soon, maybe for the first day of school in a couple of weeks!!

Sara said...

I love this! I am so excited to make it for the fam. It will be a hit with the yogurt. Thanks. Sounds like you had a fun packed weekend and got a lot done. I wish I did as much as you did.

The Blonde Duck said...

That looks so good! I should make that! I eat granola bars all the time and this would be soo much cheaper! I think it's so cute Sailor is going to be Belle. That's so nice of you to make her costume. My mom used to make mine.

2nd Miss Pickles was posted Sunday, so scroll down to read! :)

Michal said...

i love homemade granola. i can't wait to try your recipe, using the flax seed cereal.
your weekend sounds perfectly fabulous. and the quiet man is such a catch!

Anonymous said...

What a nice weekend! Love the granola.

Emily said...

Prudy your blog is a vision! I have never made homemade granola and now I know that I must!

vanillasugarblog said...

Wow, you sure keep busy. I'm not much of a runner, being 5'11" and curvy my body is not made for running but working with weights and pilates is more my game. But I have to say I've always admired people who can run; 7 miles is a lot.
I've been seeing lots of granola around food-blogger land. I love yours.

PheMom said...

I just bought that exact cereal (Bob's) at the store today! I love cinnamon and brown sugar - yum!

Prudy said...

Erin:
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love cinnamon in my granola too, but I sometimes switch it out for ginger which is really yummy too. Good luck with your granola.

Anonymous said...

Looks perfect Prudy! Can't wait to see what you do with it tomorrow.
~Cat

Emily said...

You've been busy!

No way I could have accomplished all of that.

I love homemade granola, and yours looks great.

Jaime said...

i never realized homemade granola was so easy or else i would have made some myself for the granola grabbers! guess i should have done some research first :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the homemade granola recipe. I am going to make some this weekend so I can do granola grabbers take two!
M

Anonymous said...

Try using real Cinnamon in your recipe and reduce on the sugar.

The Cinnamon that we buy in the US is actually Cassia.

Cassia has a chemical called coumarin which could be toxic.

Please click the below link to read more

www.bfr.bund.de/cd/8487