Granola

Tips

CHOOSE THE RIGHT OATS:, Reach for old-fashioned (not quick) oats, better still unstabilised from the health food store which will bake into crisp, golden granola. Cereal made with quick oats clusters better, but the texture is powdery, not crisp, and it tastes of raw starch.

CREATE CLUSTERS: To help the cereal cluster, add a smidgen of water. In combination with the oil and liquid sweetener, the water mixes with the wheat germ to create a delicious mortar. Squeeze the cereal with your hands before baking to seal the bond and form small clumps.

SWEETENERS: try honey or a combination of honey and golden syrup. If serving the granola with milk or over plain yogurt, remember that it needs to be sweet enough to carry the dairy, as well. And don't forget salt: Just a pinch brings out the cereal's flavors.

BAKE AT A LOW TEMPERATURE: That helps the cereal to crisp up and brown thoroughly and evenly. Add the dried fruit at the end so it does not get too hard.

The key is to cook the granola until it is an impressive golden brown but not burned at all.

Granola Recipe

4 cups oats  

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup shredded coconut

3/4 cup almond slivers

3/4 cup macadamia pieces

3/4 cup cashew pieces

½ cup Sesame seeds

1 cup dried fruits – cranberries, blueberries, currants

½ cup finely shredded crystallized ginger

1 cup honey

¼ cup flavorless oil, such as vegetable or canola

½  tsp. salt

Heat oven to 115 deg C. Spray a wok lightly with vegetable oil.

Thoroughly mix oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds, coconut, nuts --except dried fruit and ginger -- in the wok. Put honey, oil, and salt in microwave for 1 minute. Drizzle warm mixture over dry ingredients, and combine by kneading with hands – messy but fun. form mixture into a cone to maximise its surface area.  The thinner the better to promote even cooking.  Bake for 1 hour and then stir with the wok chan to allow even cooking. reform the cone. Bake for another 30 minutes and stir again. It will probably need one more 30 minute session.  Take out of oven and stir then allow to cool.  When cool sprinkle dried fruit on top. as well as crystallized ginger. Place in a container breaking it up to the extent you like. Granola should be stored in an airtight tin in the fridge for up to three weeks.  Put a vanilla bean in the container to enhance the flavour still further