Granola bars have a healthy reputation but most commercial brands are a huge obstacle to good health for many reasons. Loaded with unhealthy sweeteners like corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, articifical sweeteners, chemical additives and hydrogenated oils, granola bars cannot be considered a healthy snack. Even bars like Nature Valley are a poor substitute due to their high sugar content. I won't even compare the bars slathered with chocolate and studded with marshmellows which are completely anti-nutrient (meaning any possible healthy benefits are far outweighed by the poor ingredients used). Unfortunately, most of the nuts used in commercial bars have been roasted at high heat, which ruins the integrity of the essential fatty acids we need for good health. This recipe for granola is full of raw nuts and seeds, healthy fruit, high fiber and old fashioned oats without any chemical additives and sweetened with apple juice concentrate and dried fruit. I love it with almond milk, mixed with plain yogurt and berries and even sprinkled on my hot cereals. I process the almonds slightly into chunks and meal and I play around with the seeds using whatever I have on hand. Last time I made this, I didn't have almonds so I subbed in 1/2 cup hemp seed and 1/2 cup whole flax. For the fruit, I've subbed in dried cherries, goji berries, currants or dates. (When I'm feeling naughty, I've even added one litttle glug of pure maple syrup.) Experiment and make it yours.
First the Granola..... 3 c rolled oats (large flake & old fashioned, NOT instant or quick-cooking) 1 cup oat bran 1/4 c sesame seeds 1/4 cup ground or whole flaxseed 1/2 c sunflower or pumpkin seeds 1 c chopped walnuts or almonds 1/2 c. apple juice concentrate - thawed 1/4 cup coconut oil (warmed in the preheated oven in a glass measuring cup) or olive oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 c raisins (with no sulphites!) or 1 cup raisins and 1 cup cranberries 1/2– 3/4 cup flaked unsweetened coconut Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil two cookie sheets with coconut or olive oil. Mix oats and oat bran in a large bowl. Combine the apple juice concentrate, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring until everything is well coated with the oil mixture. Spread the mixture evenly on the two cookie sheets. Bake for 18-20 minutes (stirring after 10 minutes) or until golden brown. While baking stir the other ingredients together in a bowl. Remove oat mixture from the oven and add nuts, seeds, dried fruit, coconut, mixing together on the pan. Let cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Granola Bars Once you've made your granola, these bars are a snap and contain eggs for an excellent source of protein and to bind them together instead of unhealthy sweeteners. They taste even better 2-3 days later. 3 eggs 3 TB apple juice concentrate 3 cups granola 1/2 cup to 1 cup unsulphured raisins Preheat over to 350. In a large bowl beat together the eggs, apple juice concentrate and cinnamon. Add the granola and raisins or dried berries and mix well. Let the mixture sit in order to absorb some moisture while you lightly oil a 9 inch square baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan, and pat it down with the back of a large spoon. Bake for 25 minutes, or until set and lightly brown around the edges. While the mixture is still warm, cut into 1 1/2 in squares (I make mine bigger). Store in the refrigerator. Please buy raw seeds and nuts that are refrigerated and store them in the fridge. You can find these at health food stores. Most unrefrigerated nuts and seeds are rancid and therefore the valuable essential fats within have been rendered moleculary unstable, hence they become free radicals in your body. |
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