Don’t Miss a Thing!

Subscribe via email to receive the latest recipes in your inbox!

Lynsey Lou's

Enjoying Life One Bite at a Time!

Granola

SRC: Savory Granola

by 6 Comments

One of my favorite breakfasts and snacks is granola.  Over the years I’ve become quite fond of making my own granola and experimenting with various recipes.  But, in all the granola recipes I’ve made, I can’t recall a time I made a savory granola.

So, when I came across this recipe from Simple and Savory for this month’s Secret Recipe Club I knew exactly what I was going to make!  That’ didn’t, however, keep me from browsing through Anne’s delicious recipes and reading a few stories here and there.  Oh, my goodness, does she have a blog full of mouthwatering recipes: baked pasta with kale and sausage, slow cooker southwestern chicken soup, banana chocolate and walnut overnight oats, DIY sauerkraut, kale salad, and healthy almond joy bites just to name a few.

Like Anne, I sometimes crave a snack that is more on the savory than the sweet end of the spectrum.  So I was ecstatic to find a recipe for savory granola on her blog.  This is the perfect blend of sweet, salt and heat.

But, let’s get back to the recipe at hand. The savory granola.

Savory Granola

I loved the variety of nuts Anne suggested and since I had them on hand I used that mix.  But, if you don’t have these nuts on hand or don’t care for some of them, then make this your own and use your favorites.  This recipe is totally customizable.

This granola is easy to make and perfect for snacking on while in between chores, on the run or while watching your favorite show.  The next time you get ready to make a batch of granola give this one a try, you’ll be addicted!

Savory Granola

Savory Granola

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Clusters of crunchy granola packed with almonds, walnuts, pistachios. Its subtly sweet with a hint of spice. The perfect way to start your day or a delicious snack to help you make it to the next meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 Cup walnut halves
  • 1/2 Cup whole almonds
  • 1/2 Cup peanuts
  • 1/2 Cup pistachios
  • 1/4 Cup sunflower seeds
  • 3/4 Cup sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 Cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 Cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 Tsp cayenne pepper (less or more to taste)
  • 1 1/2 Tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 Tbsp fennel seeds
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat ovent o 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Combine oats, nuts, and coconut flakes in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the liquid ingredients along with the seasonings and mix until coated.
  3. Pour the mixture on the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.
  4. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally through the baking process.*
  5. Remove and allow to cool. Transfer to an airtight container to store.

Notes

* If you prefer a more chunky, or clustered, granola then do not stir often through the baking process. When stirring, be gentle and do not break up some of the custers.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @lynseylous on Instagram and hashtag it #lynseylous

© All text and images (C) Lynsey Lou's
Cuisine: American / Category: Breakfast

SRC: Homemade (Gluten Free) Granola with Quinoa

by 8 Comments

Granola is one of my favorite snacks to have on hand at all times.  It’s a delicious and healthy snack and a cinch to assemble.  However, with my schedule the past several months I honestly can’t tell you the last time I made a batch of granola.  So, I decided to change that thanks to this month’s Secret Recipe Club exchange.

While looking through this moth’s assignment, Without Adornment, I came across several tantalizing recipes.  {Vegan} Pumpkin cinnamon buns, eggnog french toast, {Vegan} apple rhubarb galette, grilled apple pie and ooey gooey single serve brownie, just to name a few.  All of these had my mouth watering, but when I came across a recipe for a simple homemade granola I knew that is what I was making.


This granola is gluten free, but if you don’t have a gluten intolerance you can simply use regular rolled oats.  Along with oats, some bran, coconut flakes, almonds, quinoa and salt are added to the mix.  This granola is then tossed in a mixture of honey and applesauce to add sweetness and flavor.  It’s baked for a few minutes and then cooled.  That’s it!

This granola is pretty basic, but strays from the norm just a bit with the addition of quinoa.  Along with the added health benefits the quinoa adds another nice layer of texture to the mix.
 
Homemade Granola with Quinoa

Ingredients:


4 Cups (gluten free) rolled oats
1/2 Cup rice bran
1 Cup shredded coconut flakes
1 Cup almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 Cup quinoa flakes
1/4 Tsp salt
1/3 Cup coconut oil, melted if it’s solid
2/3 Cup honey
4-5 Tbsp applesauce

Directions:


Preheat oven to 300.

Combine oats, bran, coconut, almonds, salt and quinoa and stir to combine.  Pour coconut oil, honey and applesauce over the dry ingredients and stir to coat.  Add more honey and/or applesauce if you’d like it sweeter.

Divide mixture between two rimmed baking sheets and spread in an even layer.  Place in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and toss with a spatula and return pans to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and place pans on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, toss to loosen and allow to set another 5-10 minutes.  Once the mixture is cooled store in an airtight container or zip top bag.

Enjoy by the handful, over yogurt, or in cereal.

Recipe source: barely adapted from Without Adornment

Homemade Coconut, Almond Granola

by Leave a Comment

Have you stopped and actually taken a look around?  Granola is everywhere.  There are so many prepackage variations for sale.  There are even more recipes floating around the internet.  And have you seen Pinterest?  We won’t even go there.  But, let’s just say that if you were in the market for granola and didn’t have a recipe then it wouldn’t hard to find a few hundred options.

So why do you think there is such an abundance of options out there?  Well I have my theories.  People are trying to be healthier, would be the first thing that comes to mind.  And while I do like to have healthy snacks on hand, that is just one of the many reasons I’m obsessed with granola.

Granola is perfect for so many reasons.  It’s a great on-the-go snack.  It’s a perfect quick breakfast that pairs so wonderfully with berries and yogurt.  It can also be enjoyed as cereal or in addition to cereal.  Granola is one of those things my entire family loves.  Once a batch is made, it doesn’t take long for it to disappear.

Now I know there are tons of options for the store bought stuff, and there’s nothing wrong with it.  But let me plead my case why I prefer the homemade stuff.  First and foremost, YOU control the ingredients.  You can choose exactly what goes in {and what doesn’t}, which also means you get to customize the flavors to exactly what you and your family love.  Oh, and did I mention it costs less?  Oh, and it’s super easy and comes together in literally 5 minutes from the time you mix it together until it goes in the oven?

Granola isn’t a lot of specialty ingredients.  I make different combinations depending on what I have on hand.  Some of our favorites are brown sugar granola, chocolate chip granola, and a version packed with dried cranberries, white chocolate and almonds.  This version that I just pulled from the oven has to be one of my new favorites; it’s packed with tons almonds, coconut oil and coconut flakes.  Another thing I’m especially fond of are the clusters of granola, perfect for picking up and popping in your mouth whenever the craving hits.

So the next time you get a hankerin’ for some granola, forget that store bought stuff and make your own at home!

Homemade Coconut, Almond Granola

Ingredients:


4 Cups oats
1 1/4 Cup almonds, roughly chopped
3/4 Cup coconut flakes
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Tsp salt
1/2 Tsp cinnamon
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp coconut oil*
1 Tsp vanilla
1/2 Cup honey

Directions:


Preheat oven to 300.

Combine oats, almonds, coconut flakes, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl and stir to combine.  Set aside.

In a small saucepan combine coconut oil, vanilla and honey, place over medium heat.  Once the mixture is warm, stir to combine.  Bring mixture to a boil and allow to boil for one minute.  Remove from heat and carefully pour over the oat mixture.  Stir to incorporate, until all the oats are coated.  Pour on a large, rimmed sheet tray and spread into an even layer.  Place in the preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping the mixture with a large spatula half way through the baking time.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

For clumps: gently press the mixture down immediately when it comes out of the oven.  Once the mixture is cooled completely use a large spatula and gently lift the the sheet of granola and gently break into clumps.  Place in an airtight container and store.

For loose, regular granola: Crumble granola into pieces, store in an airtight container.

Serve alone, over yogurt or mix with corn flakes and pour milk over the mixture to make your own honey bunches of oats.

*If you don’t have or like coconut, simply use canola oil in place of the coconut oil and omit the coconut flakes.

Recipe source: Adapted from Family Favorite Recipes

SRC: Chocolate Chip Granola

by 13 Comments

It’s no surprise that we are a granola loving family.  It’s one of those items I love having on hand at all times.  It’s perfect to top yogurt, accompany cereal, have a delicious parfait or just a quick and easy snack on the go.  More times than not you can guarantee I have a bag in my purse for those times I need a quick pick-me-up while I’m running errands.

Granola is so easy to make and it’s so much fun to customize.  I’ve made various types of granola from white chocolate cranberry, tropical, and even a simple brown sugar version and they have all been amazing.  The flavors and tastes can easily be changed by adding different fruits and nuts to the mix.  Granola is also one of those items that is fun to get the kids involved with too.  It’s just a matter of combining and stirring a few different ingredients, pouring them on a baking sheet and popping them in the oven for a few minutes.  When it’s all said and done you’ve got a delicious snack that the kids will love and they’ll be so proud because they helped make it.


So when it came time for this month’s secret recipe club assignment, I was perusing Erin’s blog, our table for seven, and I came across her recipe for chocolate granola and I instantly knew what I wanted to make.  This combines two of my favorite things; granola and chocolate.  Yum!  This is a girl after my own heart; Erin and her family sound about like me and my family, we both are addicted to granola…and chocolate.

Erin is a fun-loving wife and mother of 5.  She is an incredibly strong woman who grew up with 4 siblings, has a large family, loves cooking and photography.  She has her hands full with 5 kids so she knows how important it is to be able to make a healthy meal that can please 5 kiddos and her husband and she also knows that it needs to be done quickly.  Quick, easy and healthy is the name of the game; with a few splurges here and there.  She has an abundance of tempting and mouthwatering recipes on her blog that I can’t wait to try.  I tried my best not to go for the granola for the swap, but it just looked and sounded so good I just couldn’t help myself!  So be sure to head on over to Erin’s blog and check her and her recipes out!

Chocolate Chip Granola

Ingredients:


3 Cups rolled oats
2 1/2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 Cup almonds, roughly chopped
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:


Preheat oven to 325.  Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Place oats, brown sugar, salt, and almonds in a bowl and toss to combine.

Place honey and vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 25-30 seconds, until honey is thin. Stir and pour over the oat mixture.  Stir the mixture to ensure all the ingredients are covered in the honey mixture.  Spread on the prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven and bake until golden and the oats start to get crunchy, about 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to sit, untouched for about 5 minutes.  Once the mixture has cooled slightly, using a spatula, gently move the granola around to ensure it hasn’t stuck to the pan.

Allow the mixture to cool completely, gently transfer to a bowl and add the chocolate chips and toss gently to incorporate.

*This method allows some of the granola to form little chunks, which I love.  If you prefer a granola without chunks then stir the mixture throughout the baking process.

Recipe source: slightly adapted from Our Table for Seven

White Chocolate Cherry Granola

by Leave a Comment

Are you an early riser?  One that has plenty of time to get everything done that needs to be done before walking out the door and with time to spare?  Or are you one of those people that sleeps until the last possible minute before barreling out of bed after pushing the snooze for the umpteenth time, running around like a crazy person trying to get ready and run out the door to make it to work on time?

I am the early riser in my house.  I’m not a wake-up at the crack of dawn early rise, I mean I could definitely afford to get up a little bit earlier than I do but I am a early rise.  I don’t know if it’s necassarily by want that I’m the early riser, but I am the early riser in my house.  In the mornings I not only have time to get myself ready, but I have time to make smoothies for myself and Spencer as well as do a few odds and ends.  As much as I cringe as the sound of the alarm blaring, I do enjoy not running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Having quick, and healthy options for breakfasts definitely helps to keep me on track to getting out the door in a timely manner.

Granola is one of those things I’m not only addicted to, but that I love having on hand.  While it’s a great option for breakfast, it’s also the perfect treat to have on hand for an afternoon snack or pick-me-up.  It’s so easy and transportable; put some in a plastic bag and toss it in your purse, keep some in a plastic container in the car for a snack on the go or for a treat to keep the kids hunger contained until you get home. 

Probably one of my favorite things about homemade granola is just how easy it is to make.  Not only is it incredibly easy, it’s also customizable.  You can make your own granola, control what goes in, and customize it to your tastes.  It’s also a fun snack to make with the younger “chefs” who love helping in any way possible.  Granola is that perfect thing to let the those little chefs have freedom in the kitchen and let their imagination go wild with flavor combinations.  While plain ol’ granola with a touch of honey and some nuts is delicious, the options are endless and there are tons of things that can be added to twist things up and turn that flavor up just one more notch.

This white chocolate cherry granola is just one of the many varieties of granola that you can make.  I love the combination of the tart cherries, sweet and crunchy granola and the hints of smooth white chocolate.  It’s amazing and so addicting.  It’s like candy.  The best part is it takes very little time to make.  I guess that’s one of the many reasons I love making my own granola; it’s fun and it’s so easy!  I highly recommend this granola, but I also encourage you to get adventurous and try some of your own, favorite flavor combos.  Once you make your first batch of granola, you won’t stop! 

White Chocolate Cherry Granola

Ingredients:

2 Cups old fashioned oats
3 1/2 Tbsp flax seeds
1/3 Cup almonds, roughly chopped
Pinch of salt
3 Tbsp raw honey
2 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 Tbsp apple juice
1 1/3 Cups dried cherries
2 ounces white chocolate
1/2 Cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325.

In a large bowl combine oats, flax seeds, almonds and salt and stir to combine.  Set aside.  Spray a rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Place honey, butter and apple juice in a small saucepan and place over low-medium heat and allow butter to melt.  Stir to combine.  Once the butter has melted, increase heat and bring to a bubble.  Once the mixture has started bubbling, allow mixture to boil 1 1/2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and pour over the oat mixture and stir to combine and until everything is fully coated.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.  Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.  Stir mixture every 5-10 minutes.  Once the mixture is toasted remove from oven and allow to cool completely. 

Once the mixture has cooled add the dried cherries and toss to combine.  Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 10 seconds, and drizzle over the granola.  Let chocolate set, until cool, then stir the granola to coat in the white chocolate.  Allow chocolate to dry, add chocolate chips and toss to combine.  Store in airtight containers for up to two weeks.

Recipe source: A Lynsey Original

SRC:Brown Sugar Granola

by 13 Comments

For this month’s secret recipe club swap, I was assigned Finding Joy in My Kitchen.  “SnoWhite” is a doctor by day and cook by night.  She started cooking as a hobby during graduate school mainly as a way to maintain her food allergy and since then it’s turned into so much more.  Her love of cooking started way before school; her mom and grandmothers all enjoyed cooking and were very good at what they did.  They have played a roll in her joy of cooking and are an inspiration to her while in the kitchen.

After browsing through a multitude of recipes, I finally decided on this recipe for brown sugar granola.  We’ve been on a granola kick lately and this seemed like it would be perfect for fall!  Another reason I decided on granola, is because my little man ALWAYS wants a snack after school and I’ve been looking for more healthy alternatives to give him for the ride home.  What’s better than granola?  Plus, he loves it.  It’s a win win; it’s healthy, tastes good and he enjoys it! 

This granola is packed full of flavor and the brown sugar and cinnamon flavors truly do remind me of all the goodness of fall.  Granola is perfect as a snack, but it’s also great in cereal, on yogurt, applesauce, pearsauce, ice cream and so on.  There are so many things that you can do with granola, the options are endless, the only limit is your imagination!  I love homemade granola because you get to control the ingredients and customize it to your tastes; the options and add-ins are endless!

Brown Sugar Granola

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 + 2 Tbsp brown sugar  
3 Tbsp water
1/2 Tsp roasted Siagon cinnamon
2 Cups oats
3 Tbsp flax seeds
1 Cup pecans, roughly chopped
1 Cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.  Spray a rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Place butter, brown sugar, and water in a small saucepan over low-medium heat.  Stir to dissolve sugar, once sugar has dissolved allow mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Once the mixture has simmered remove from heat.

Meanwhile, place oats, flax seeds, and pecans in a bowl and stir to combine.  Add the cinnamon and stir.  Once the brown sugar and butter have simmered, pour over the oats and stir to coat completely. 

Transfer granola to prepared baking sheet and spread evenly.  Place in preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven, stir and return to oven for 5 more minutes.  Turn oven off, remove granola and stir and return to oven.  Allow granola to sit in cooling oven for an additional 20-30 minutes and stir every 5-8 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t get too brown.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Add raisins, stir and transfer to airtight containers.

Recipe source: adapted from Finding Joy inMy Kitchen