The harvest is coming in and every day I get a little farther, but today I decided to switch gears a bit and make a batch of granola before going out. Must be the change of seasons, but I have been thinking cereal has sounded good lately. This morning the sun was shining, so I took advantage of the weather and baked it in the sun oven while working in the garden. I set the sun oven close by so I could stir the granola every 15 minutes, allowing me to tend to both the garden and the granola. It was the perfect balance of getting things done and enjoying the process.
The recipe calls for a fat, and while I’ve often used things like coconut oil or butter, I’ve been trying to find ways to utilize the abundance of lard I have on hand. Typically, I use it for pie crusts or frying, but I’ve got so much that I was determined to find other uses before the next batch needs to be rendered and put on the shelf. So, as an experiment, I decided to use lard as my fat option in the granola.
For sweetness, I reached for something special: the maple sugar I made from the syrup we made this past spring. It felt good to incorporate our homegrown ingredients into the recipe, making it truly ours. As the granola baked in the sun oven, the smell of oats, nuts, and maple filled the air, mixing with the fresh earthiness of the garden.
The results? A complete success! There was no taste of the lard and it cooked in well. Paired with the subtle sweetness of the maple sugar, the granola turned out even better than I expected. It's so good, I almost want to make another batch right away!
There’s something deeply fulfilling about knowing that not only is this granola free from preservatives and chemicals, but it’s also made with ingredients we've worked hard to produce and preserve. It’s a small reminder of the value in homemade food and the joy in making use of what we already have on hand.
Here is my recipe if you would like to try to make some!
This recipe will make about 1 gallon so just cut it down if you don't need that much or are just trying it. Make it your own by using whatever you like to use for additions. Make it different each time using different nuts, dried fruit or even coconut.
Good Morning Granola
In a large bowl mix together:
7 cups rolled oats
7 cups puffed rice or plain cereal of choice
*(whatever quality you want. I used an organic chocolate rice krispies)
3 cups walnuts
2-3 cups sweetener of choice (Honey, sucanot, syrup, coconut sugar...)
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 cups of melted fat (butter, oil, lard, tallow...)
Mix well to make sure everything is fully incorporated and spread thin on an open pan or sheet. Bake 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes. This will toast the granola to perfection. Let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container. Use it up and make another batch!
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