Okay, so you know I’m inherently lazy.
Some of you may also know that I’m not much of a cook. So if I bother passing on a recipe, you know it’s gonna be easy! If it does, in fact, involve much effort, then you know it’s going to be absolutely worth it. When I run across an easy, healthy AND delicious recipe, I feel I’ve achieved a sort of Lazy Personal Trainer nirvana.
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| Freshly made granola. Yum! This is a double batch... we go through it quickly! |
This one has a moderate (by my lazy standards) amount of effort required but is still easy and it’s so delicious, it is indeed worth it.
Power Granola*
3 cups regular oats
2/3 cup ground flaxseed
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup slivered almonds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup orange juice (I use Trop 50 or Minute Maid Lite)
1/3 cup honey
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
1/3 cup dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.
Combine orange juice, honey, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in oil and vanilla.
Pour honey mixture over oat mixture, stirring to coat. Spread mixture in a thin layer onto a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes; stir well. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown. Spoon granola into a bowl; stir in dried cranberries. Cool completely.
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| On the cookies sheets - ready to go into the oven. |
This is so good, it’s insane. My favorite way to eat it is with Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I've rhapsodized about this wonder beverage before). I also often add a serving of Fiber One original to my cereal bowl to bulk it up even more for fewer calories. Granola calories - even this lower fat/sugar version – can add up fast!
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| After cooling it completely, I store in an airtight container. It doesn't even stay around long enough to get stale, tho! |
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