Granola Recipe

It is hard to find a good granola out there, for I have tried many.  I think it is a good idea to make your own, this way you really know what is in there.  Also, whether it is sugar, honey, agave, or whatever natural sweetener you put in, it is important to make foods to learn just how much ingredient for your own knowledge in order to make healthy eating choices.

This recipe is from a friend, who I think might just be the next Top Chef!!! haha  She is going to culinary school and definitely has some skills in the kitchen.  I have yet to try this recipe, but from what I could tell from her Facebook posts, people LIKE IT.

Try it for yourself!

Ruth Lin's Granola Recipe
Makes a big batch, feel free to halve the recipe.

• 8 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup chopped cashews
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup dried blueberries
• 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/2 cup flax seeds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
2. Combine the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 40 minutes total. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the cranberries/dried fruit/flax before storing in an airtight container.   

Tips from Ruth:

"Since ingredients/nuts can be pricey, I just went to Trader Joe's for all of the ingredients...got a bag of mixed, roasted unsalted fancy nuts.  I also spent some time chopping them up, but I didn't mind. Added to the mix a separate bag of sunflower seeds, and got a bag of walnuts.  Trader Joe's sells 32 oz bags of rolled oats (FYI: it's supposed to be 8 cups, but I found that it comes out to more than 8 cups when measured out).  Trader Joe's sells organic virgin coconut oil now too. Even though it's a pricier granola recipe, I think it's well worth it!"

Fatty Restaurant Encounters

Healthy or fatty?  What do you think of when you hear of Jason's Deli?  Panera Bread?  Corner Bakery?  In-and-Out?  Yummy....I bet.  Maybe healthy restaurant?  Or healthy fatty restaurant?  Their marketing department probably answers to healthy.  But, how does anything on the menu with uber cheese or buttery delight constitute as healthy?  Does healthy in this context mean fatty too?

My opinion on these restaurants is that they are great alternatives to fast food or greasy spoons because these restaurants care about their ingredients.  But, don't be fooled that the Club Royale at Jason's Deli or the blueberry muffin at Panera is going to help you stay slim.  Culprits to weight gain are still the same: sugar, cheese, butter, etc.  However, if you are going to splurge, restaurants who offer better ingredients will likely taste better and be better for you in the long run than processed junk.

I found an interesting article off Yahoo! Health that helps you understand menu jargon.  Go to a place that serves quality ingredients, and know what will be fatty and what is not so much.  For instance, picking scampi means lots of butter.  Picking parmigiana means breaded and fried.  Picking au gratin means cream, cheese, and some other buttery goodness.  And, one of my own learnings, picking crispy means deep-fried!

Check out the link:
Fattiest Restaurant Words to Avoid