Apricot Coconut Granola

Apricot Coconut Granola

Spring is busy. Longer days give me the sense that I've more time. So what if I don't get to the garden until four in the afternoon! I still have several hours of daylight to accomplish garden tasks.

One regular task in my week is granola-making. My family gets grumpy if they open the fridge in the morning and find only a few crumbs of the granola batch remaining.

I make granola differently each time, selecting the ingredients from what I find in the cupboard. Here's the recipe for a recent batch that we particularly enjoyed. It includes dried apricots which give a nice pop to the palate.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 cups of wheat germ
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds or pepitas, chopped
1 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup coarsely ground flax seeds
1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup of shredded coconut
1 cup chopped apricots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 330 Fahrenheit (about 165 C). 
• In a large baking pan, slowly heat the honey and oil on your stovetop. Your setting should be on low.
• Mix the oats and wheat germ into the honey and oil, stirring slowly.
• Once the grains have been added, put in the seeds, continuing to stir the mix.
• Place the baking pan into the oven, setting the timer for 7 minutes.
• While the first items are baking in the oven, coarsely chop the nuts.
• At the 7-minute bell, take out the baking pan and add the nut mixture and the coconut. Mix thoroughly. 
• Continue to toast the mix for a total of about 35 minutes, stirring every 7-10 minutes.

Apricots, dried cranberries, and raisins - sweet!

• While the grains and nuts are toasting, chop the apricots. Then add the raisins and dried cranberries to the apricots.
• Set the dried fruit aside for now. (It will be added after all the toasting is done.)
• When the granola has reached that golden color, remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 5-7 minutes. Then pour the granola into a large bowl and mix in the dried fruit.
• Let the mix cool. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. 

A new batch!

If you are looking for a way to keep your family eating a healthy breakfast, try making some granola. It is delicious with yogurt and fresh berries.

You can find other healthy recipes here.

Hope your spring is going well!