Gilles Clément Koupaki

Inspired by Alton Brown’s Good Eats, I tried my very first (and successful) attempt at making home made granola bars. With the right ingredients and a few minutes of preparation time, home made granola is a healthy choice for snacks or dessert; and it’s a good source of essential and natural nutrients.

Most of the ingredients I used are pretty basic and can be found any food supply store. For granola and oat products, I recommend a natural and organic food store such as Chamberlin’s, where I picked up my supplies.

Ingredients used:

• 3 cups of rolled oats
• 3 tbsp of wheat germ
• 3 tbsp of oat bran
• 1/2 cup of raw walnuts (and raw sunflower seeds if you like)
• 3/4 cup of honey
• 4 tbsp oz of dark  brown sugar
• 2 tbsp of unsalted butter
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract
• a pinch salt (or none at all)
• 1/2 cup of dried raisins (or which ever type of dried fruit)
• 1/4 to 1/2  cup of semi sweet chocolate chips (optional)

1. Using an oven cooking sheet, spread flat and mix the rolled oats, wheat germ, oat bran, crushed walnuts, and bake at 350 degrees (F) for 15 minutes to toast the oat and nut products (stir every 5 minutes using a spatula).

2. In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, add the honey, dark brown sugar, unsalted butter, vanilla extract, and kosher salt. Stir the mixture until all the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the binding agent ready, add the toasted oats mixture and dried raisins, and thoroughly mix until the binding agent liquid has been fully absorbed by the toasted oats and raisins.

3. Move the above mixture into a well oiled baking dish (I used parchment paper and cooking spray for my dish to avoid sticking), spread it out so it’s even in the dish (9 by 9 glass dish or larger). Bake the dish at 300 degrees (F) for 25 minutes in the oven. Once out of the oven, allow the granola to semi cool before cutting (at least 30 minutes).

4. To cut the bars (or chunks), run a knife through the edge of the baking dish, turn in out onto a cutting board.

5. It’s easier to cut the granola while it’s still a bit soft rather than fully hardened. Cut into sizes of your liking, and leave on the cutting board until fully cooled, hardened, and crispy (another 30 to 45 minutes). Serve with milk & cereal, tea, yogurt, ice scream, or whatever you like; or as is.

6. Store in a container at room temperature if you like it chewy, or refrigerate if you prefer it crunchy.

And there you have it folks, home made granola! (warning: seriously addictive)

PS: Try it my way first, if you like it, adjust the recipe and sweetness as you please.