ATTENTION: My bread was too dense for my standards on Wednesday 11/20. I hope it was still enjoyable, but if you didn't like it, hit me up for another loaf next time I see you! .
A perfectly imperfect experimental neighborhood micro-bakery.
About every-other-Wednesday, time and weather permitting.
For more info and variations, this granola recipe is adapted from the Cookie and Kate website.
TIME COMMITMENT: low
ADAPTABILITY: very high
COST: low to high, depending on type and quality of ingredients
MESS: low
HEALTH: medium. The main issue here comes from the maple syrup (or honey). Even though unrefined sugars are a better alternative and retain traces of vitamins and minerals, they are still none-the-less added sugars, making this food better viewed as a treat than a staple.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds
1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
½ cup olive oil
½ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon.
Pour in the oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway.
The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes).
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. T
A friend shared this recipe with me. Click it to enlarge.
TIME COMMITMENT: medium (due to rolling out each ball individually)
ADAPTABILITY: very high - test out a variety of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
COST: medium due to cost of dates and nuts
MESS: messy, greasy hands while rolling into balls
HEALTH: high. As long as your ingredients don't have any added sugars and whatnot, this is one of the most primitive forms of food.
In their purest form, energy balls are little more than trail mix blended up in a food processor. So, if you are only eating it for the healthy ingredients and don't want to dirty any dishes, you might consider eating the nuts and dried fruits straight-up.
The benefit of blending them with extra flavors like cocoa powder and vanilla, is that they begin to mimic desserts, making it a great entry-level food for people seeking dietary changes.