Granola is one of the easiest things to make and just a little bit goes a long way to dress up a bowl of oatmeal or plain yogurt. Artisan granola is quite expensive but if you buy the ingredients in bulk it can be a very cost effective homemade endeavor. The stars of this particular granola are walnuts and cranberries. Out of all nuts, walnuts have the highest amount of omega-3 fats, an essential fat that most of us on Western diets need more of; just avoid any nuts that look shriveled or discolored, as they are no longer fresh and their oils have probably gone rancid and lost their health benefits. They are also a good source of antioxidants, vitamin E, several B vitamins and many minerals. Cranberries are also high in antioxidants, as well as vitamin C and numerous other vitamins and minerals. I also added in a few different types of whole grains with vastly different textures, the quinoa flakes add some density, the buckwheat grouts (don’t let the tricky name fool you- they are not a type of wheat and do not contain gluten) are very crunchy and the millet puffs are light and airy. The honey (or maple syrup) and almond butter act as flavor enhancers and binders and the spices add some anti-inflammatory benefits and seasoning.
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup quinoa flakes (or oats)
- 1 cup buckwheat
- 1 cup millet puffs (or brown rice or quinoa puffs)
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup raw honey or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- Preheat oven to 300°. Mix together the walnuts, quinoa flakes, buckwheat, millet puffs, cranberries, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl then stir in the honey and almond butter. Spread out the mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
