The Urban Domestic: Granola for the Seoul

Granola, it is so simple, so comforting. Yet if you bought it in the store you would think it was made of cardboard and lies of promised health. My dearest friend, runner and fellow health nut, Shelley, has relocated to ovenless Seoul, South Korea. Granola is her staple. So what's a gal pal to do? Send a box full of home made granola (and coffee), of course!

You will absolutely kick yourself in the pants when you realize how easy it is to make your own bowl licking, amazing to die for granola. Seriously, never buy that pre-packaged crap ever again. I put this together from reading other recipes and experimenting on my own.

The Basic Bare Bones Granola

4 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsps ground cinnamon
1 cup nuts (optional)
1 cup dried fruit
1/3 cup coconut or canola oil
1/3 cup agave nectar
2 tsps vanilla extract

Turn oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients together. Whisk oil, agave nectar and vanilla together in a small bowl. Pour wet ingredients over dry and using a rubber spatula, thoroughly mix together.

Dump granola onto a cookie sheet with sides.

Bake for 15 minutes, take out and stir, pop back in for 8 minutes. Granola should be golden brown. Let cool completely on cookie sheet before snacking or storing commences.

Now for some fun variations on a theme.

Blueberry-Almond

4 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup chopped or sliced raw almonds
1 cup dried blueberries
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup agave nectar
2 tsps almond extract

Follow above baking directions for Basic Bare Bones Granola above.

Curry Coconut Cashew

4 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsp curry powder (I use madras curry powder from Penzey's Spices)
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup raw cashews
1 cup dried pineapple, mango, or crystallized ginger (optional)
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/3 cup agave nectar

Follow above baking directions for Basic Bare Bones Granola above.

Get creative and get your granola on.