Easy Stovetop Granola

 

I just love eating oats for breakfast. In the winter this often means oatmeal, and it's the perfect wintertime breakfast as it is warm and filling . . . a real stick to the ribs breakfast when it is cold and you need all that extra energy and warmth!

 

But come the warmer weather I am so loathe to give up my oats!  Oats are not only good for your heart but they are a slow release energy carb . . . and so they help you to feel satisfied and full longer!  Much better for a greedy gus like me!

 

I love granola as well . . . and I love homemade granola much, much more than storebought mixtures.  At least when I make it myself I can control what exactly goes into it.  I like that idea.

 

Here's a delicious granola recipe that you can make in the summer months without heating up your oven and kitchen!  You make it completely on top of the stove.  Truth be told I love my normal granola recipe . . . but I love this one even more!



You make a tasty butter/sugar/honey mixture and flavour it with vanilla and almond . . . and then you stir in oats, coconut and a variety of nuts.  Then you just stand there stirring it for a time, until it gets all toasted and golden brown.

 

You pour it out onto a baking sheet spread it out to let it cool and then you stir in whatever combination of dried fruit you like.  Today I did dried cranberries, dried blueberries and raisins.  But I sometimes add dried mango, pineapple and guava chunks.  



It smells gorgeous while you are making it . . . I like to have it for breakfast in a bowl along with some thick greek yogurt.  It's just like eating dessert.

 

 I like the idea of eating dessert for breakfast, don't you???


 

*Easy Stovetop Granola*
Makes a large 2 litre container
Printable Recipe

So easy to make and perfect for the summer when you don't want to heat up your kitchen.  Delicious too!

320g of rolled oats, not quick cooking (4 cups)
115g of butter (1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
4 TBS runny honey
100g of soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup packed)
85g of flaked almonds (1/2 cup)
60g of chopped pecans (1/2 cup)
55g of whole cashews (1/2 cup)
75g of shredded coconut (1 cup)
150g of dried fruit (about 1 cup, whichever mix you want)

Place a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the butter, brown sugar, honey, vanilla and almond extract.  Cook and stir to melt.  Add the oats, nuts and coconut to the skillet.  Stir to coat well with the butter/sugar mixture.  Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the granola is a dark golden brown.  This will take 10 to 20 minutes and do keep an eye on it so that it doesn't catch and burn.  Remove from the heat and pour out onto a baking sheet to cool  completely.  Add the dried fruit and mix in.  Store in an airtight container.