Thursday, February 19, 2009

CEIMB: Nutty Granola, or "I didn't eat it all, you did."


The first recipe that I made when I joined Tuesdays with Dorie was Granola Grabbers, these really wonderful, spicy granola cluster cookies. Until Amanda told me that she was in an online baking club that required her to bake every week and then blog about it, I had never even heard of a food blog. I did read Amanda's blog, but I did not have a blogger or google identity, so I had to walk down the hallway to comment on it in person, just like in the olden days. So the first day that I ever really sat down and read a bunch of food blogs was on the Tuesday that I posted the Granola Grabbers.

Well, clearly, before I started food blogging I was a troglodyte living deep in Plato's cave. I didn't know that I didn't know. Back then, I had no idea that granola was even something that you could make yourself. I remember reading several posts, many by people whom I now count among my favorite bloggers, in which people wrote about making their own granola to use in the cookies. I thought to myself: "these people MAKE their own granola? Man, they are hardcore."

And yet here I am, six months later, feeling absolutely certain that I will never buy granola again.


Ellie Krieger's recipe for Nutty Granola is super fast. I am positive that it would have taken me double the time to get into my car and drive to buy some granola at the Western three minutes from my house than it took me to whip this together. It is also super easy. I made it once and will remember the recipe forever. And this is coming from someone who sometimes forgets to put on shoes in the morning. And it is amazingly, and I mean A-MAZ-ING-LY, delicious.

Peggy told me that she and her hubs had this for breakfast every morning for days. David and I are not that civilized, apparently -- we just grabbed a handful of it every time we walked past the fridge for the approximately 15 hours that it existed, and then it was all gone. That's when the accusations started flying. David had been home with our one year old for a couple of hours on Tuesday morning. When I got home, I noticed that the container of granola was looking emptier than it had been when I left the house earlier, but that was okay; I was glad that David was enjoying it. Well, when he got home later in the day, most of the rest of it was gone, and we had the following conversation:

D: What happened to all the granola?
C: What? It was almost gone when I got home earlier.
D: I remember there being like half a container left. Were you all just snacking on it? That's okay. I just thought maybe you used it to make those cookies or something.
C: It was practically gone when I got home, there wasn't enough there for cookies.

Obviously neither of us is going to cop to having eaten most of those 9 servings in that 15 hour span. Really, the only bad thing that I can think to say about Ellie's granola is that it is almost impossible to stop eating it.

There is really not a whole lot to say about the process, and for once, I am going to seize on the fact that there is not a whole lot to say and actually not say a whole lot, instead of just jabbering on about something unrelated and irrelevant. You mix everything (i.e., oats, three kinds of nuts, raisins, salt, cinnamon, and maple syrup) in a big bowl, spread it on a baking sheet, and bake it. That's it! I am making my second batch tonight.

The great Leslie from Lethally Delicious chose the granola for CEIMB this week. Leslie, we kinda sorta liked your pick, can you tell?



P.S. There is something kind of funny about the fact that the word "bloggers" gets flagged as misspelled by the Blogger spellcheck.

31 comments:

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Ha, ha, the first time I made granola from scratch was for those cookies and I thought I was hardcore! Not a cent has been spent on store-bought granola since then. Last week I made a batch from a Tyler Florence recipe, which I am trying to post for Friday. Yours looks delicious, and obviously it earned high marks around there, so I'll check out Ellie's recipe too. Hmm, did the kids even get a chance to try this?

Love your remark about commenting the old fashioned way!
Nancy

Anonymous said...

There is something very awesome about homemade granola..... not only does it contain less preservatives but .. well it is homemade!

Anonymous said...

P.S. I am adding you to the foodies blog roll = )

Audrey said...

I would MUCH rather snack on Kashi Go Lean crunch straight from the box than eat it for, like, breakfast. So, yay! More junk food for me. This does look very very good! I've never made granola, and if I'd been in TWD for those grabbers, I would have been soft core. But I'd love to try this one.

Elyse said...

I've yet to make Ellie's granola recipe, but after hearing your description, there's no question. Like you, I'm a huge granola fan. BUT, I've never made it myself! Now's the time to start, right? Especially now that I have a huge craving for some granola!

Deb in Hawaii said...

I make my own granola (never thought I was hardcore though!) ;-) I have not tried Ellie's yet and now it looks like I need to since it got such great reviews!

Barbara Bakes said...

Now I feel really guilty I've never made my own granola! Definitely making it now!

Matt's Kitchen said...

Maybe granola will replace money in the "number one things that couples disagree about" list. Try Ellie's energy bars. I made them at first and though they were a bit bland, but then I found myself grabbing one every time I walked by the kitchen. They are oddly addictive...

Anonymous said...

It was that good. But it was guilt free good so eating it within 15 hours - hey...there are worse things.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Ha! Too funny and wow look how gar you;ve come in a few short months. You have a terrific blog and wonderful recipes. I am going to make this granola, you have me sold!

Pamela said...

I know, I smile ever ytime the word blogger shows up as wrong! Now that I've picked out all of my burnt fruit, I am enjoying the granola much more. I will definitely make it again. It was so easy! Great job, and I'm glad everyone enjoyed it so much!

Aggie said...

I love your conversations Cathy!! You always make me smile!!

This granola was so good! And easy. LOVED it...well, still LOVE it b/c luckily I have still have some left!

MixMyGranola said...

The Granola recipe looks tasty. Try www.mixmygranola.com -- custom-made granola the way YOU like it!

Cheers,
Matt

Anonymous said...

I will have to try those granola grabbers with some homemade granola now. This was so good, I can't to make more and try some different flavors. Yours looks perfect.

Jessica said...

I love blaming the absence of food on someone else. I think that was the hardest thing for me to adjust to when I moved up here, the knowledge that I was the ONLY person eating the food. So, if it was all gone in 24 hours, it was my fault. At least with the granola it'd good for me though. I finally ordered Ellie's cookbook so when it arrives on my doorstep I'm definitely going to give this recipe a try!

Maria said...

Glad you enjoyed this one. I love homemade granola! This one looks great!! If I make it I will have to eat it all though because Josh is allergic to nuts...so this could be dangerous for me!

Heather said...

looks so yummy! i adore homemade granola. it has so many uses!

Mary Ann said...

I was a little embarrassed by the fact that our granola only lasted less than 24 hours! At least I wasn't the only one. This really was quick and good. I am glad you are now a determined granola maker. Gotta love all the things food blogging does for ya!

Pam said...

It would last less than that in this house. I love homemade granola - one reason why I've never made it. I could just eat it until it's gone. Yours looks tasty.

Leslie said...

I'm so glad someone else was vying for the record! I think I finished it in two days, and I didn't have help since I never told M it was in the fridge. :-)

Love you and love your blog, Cathy! Thanks for cooking with me this week!

Steph said...

I stopped making granola because of how addicting it is or I just give it all away! It crazy how easily you can eat almost cups of oatmeal, nuts and fruit witout feeling a thing.

Melissa said...

I'm one of those people who has never made my own granola. But I absolutely love it... maybe this is the nudge I need to finally try making it myself!

natalia said...

Ciao ! You convinced me ! Tomorrow I'll make it ...and hide it !!!

The Blonde Duck said...

I used to think people that made bread from scratch were hardcore, and now only Ben's diet keeps me from doing it every weekeend...I want to try this granola!

Jennifer said...

I am so entertained that neither you nor your hubby would admit to who at all the granola! I was a slacker this week and skipped making the granola. After all the rave reviews it has gotten i guess I will have to try it sometime soon! Yours looks great!

Anonymous said...

I love making my own granola. It's the only cereal I eat. You should try Orangette's chocolate granola. It's to die for.

La Bella Cooks said...

So much tastier than the store bought as well. You can't beat an Ellie recipe as they are tasty and you forget they are good for you!

NKP said...

It really is easy once you get used to it!
I make my own too, but I have this book so I will give Ellie's recipe a try!
Next step... making your own yogurt to go with your granola... :)

Anne said...

Fine, you've convinced me to try it. :) Though I'm sure we'd have the same end result and pointing fingers as you guys did!

What's for Supper? said...

We have been snacking on this constantly too! I love those granola grabbers as well.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness this was some awesome granola. I know I ate it all because I didn't want to share :)

 
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