Healthy Granola Muesli

I don't know about you, but I really, really like granola and muesli, especially when it's made at home using healthy, whole ingredients.

Today I'd like to share two favorite recipes for healthy granola and muesli, both of which I learned many years ago from a newsletter reader named Wiens.

These are excellent recipes, so be sure to give them a try.

Wiens' Homemade Stove Top Granola

1 cup rolled oats or kamut or rye flakes
1/3 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans or a mixture)
1/3 cup wheat germ or ground flaxseed or pumpkin seeds or all
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 tsp salt (optional)
2-3 handfuls of dried fruit (raisins, dates, figs, apples, apricots, etc -- anything chewy)
Water

In a food processor, add the dried fruit and about 3 tablespoons of water. Puree and add water as needed till it becomes fully blended and a sticky ball. Set aside. Add the oats and nuts to a large lightly greased skillet over medium heat. Stir constantly for about five minutes, paying attention to turn ingredients over. The nuts and oats will start to become slightly golden and toasted.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the skillet and continue stirring and turning for about 10 more minutes until it's all golden and smells toasted.

Add the sticky ball of fruit and, using a plastic spatula, chop the ball up until it is evenly divided and coated with the nuts and seeds. Altering the amount of fruit will increase or decrease the sweetness and gives the granola that chewy texture.

Serve warm or cold on its own, over fresh or warmed fruit or with plain yogurt or milk. This granola would also be great as a topping on a baked fruit dessert! Store in the refrigerator. I don't know how long it keeps because I eat it so fast.


Wiens' Stove Top Muesli

Use the same recipe as above (no salt) and add everything to a bowl except the ground flaxseed or wheat germ and the coconut. You could also try the other grains or even millet or buckwheat. No need to puree the fruit. Fill with water until the ingredients are just covered and store in the fridge overnight.

Do not drain, as the water is very sweet and tasty! The sugar from the fruit has sweetened the water and the flavor travels throughout all the ingredients.

Then add flaxseed and coconut and stir together. Serve warm or cold in the same way. Add fresh fruit or berries, serve with yogurt or add milk. All these combinations have been delicious!

Thanks to Wiens for sharing these healthy granola recipes so many years ago.

If you have a healthy granola or muesli recipe you'd like to share, please use the comment link below.

Chet "Granola Man" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com