Condo Blues: Eat Healthy and Save Money: Make Granola Cereal

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Eat Healthy and Save Money: Make Granola Cereal

I am not a big cereal eater. As a kid I was more interested in the toy buried in the box of Technicolor surgery cereal than actually eating the cereal.

Later, I discovered the dried fruit and nut cluster colon blow type cereals. Those I liked. Especially when I topped them off with milk and popped them in microwave for a minute or so – just like warm oatmeal. Nom.

Since husband and I are trying to watch the sugar intake, it’s downright disappointing and almost impossible to find a cereal that doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup in it. When we do the price is more than I want to pay for food that makes me hungry a couple of hours after I eat it.

And then there is the packaging. The box is easily recyclable but the wax paper bag that holds the cereal is not.



We’ve pretty much given up eating cereal until I decided to try Katy of Non-Toxic Kids’s advice and make my own granola cereal. Making granola has been on my To Try List for awhile but it was the One Small Green Change Challenge that was the kick in the pants that I needed to actually do it.

I followed Kitchen Stewardship’s Homemade Granola Recipe. It wasn’t hard to make at all, and the kitchen smelled sooooooo good while it was baking in the oven.

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I used raisins as the dried fruit.


Tip: To keep the dried fruit from drying out or burning while the granola is baking; add it to the mix after it comes out of the oven.

Husband declared it a win. In fact he said it reminded him of the granola cereals he grew up eating as a kid. Making granola is very forgiving. You can mix and match the ingredients with what you have on hand. It’s kind of like making meatloaf. There are a few basic ingredients that are always in the recipe but after that, everyone adds or subtracts their own variations.

It was a good way for me to get a baking fix without making cakes or cookies. I’m trying to lay off that for the time being. I’m trying to lose the cookie weight I gained during Christmas. Oops.

It’s one small green change we’ve made to eat healthier, save money, and reduce our household waste!

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5 comments :

Leah said...

You're making me feel guilty! I just drooled over a chocolate recipe on another blog. Way to go with your wholesome recipe!!! Have a happy day!
Leah

Lisa said...

I need to try to make some granola. Being a hippie shouldn't I be eating some? lol

Unknown said...

years ago, my mom made homemade granola (like 38 yrs ago) and it was so delicious. She probably still has the recipe. Great idea.

Thanks for visiting last week!

No I wasn't Sleeping said...

making Granola used to be my job in the cafeteria in High school. I hadn't made it since, until just this monday.
I too was tired of paying so much for good cereal.. My problem is that i love it so much I can go through the box By Myslef. So I made it myself.
Instead of adding fruit when I bake it though, I like to add the frozen blue berries or raspberries from last summer. Wow. A serios treat for the tongue. And I am not as hungry later either.

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I keep wanting to make granola, but I've just never done it. I really have no idea why. I mean, I bake all the time...

Your granola looks delicious!

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