I am Kathey Raskin. Welcome to my Las Vegas kitchen! Today is National Granola Day. There are many delicious varieties of granola available at the store, but I like to make my own. Store-bought granola is costly, it can be fattening, and it never has as many goodies in it as I like. If you have a baking sheet, a mixing bowl, and an oven, you can make your own granola. Once your house smells like fresh-baked granola, you’ll thank me for the suggestion!
The Benefits of Eating Granola
You may have heard granola is unhealthy, but the truth is you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you’d like. The benefits of granola are too numerous to list in their entirety, but even the short list makes an incredible case for adding this delicious food to your diet.
- Increased energy
- Reduced cholesterol
- Enhanced cognition
- Improved digestion
- Weight loss
- Lowered blood pressure
- Anemia prevention
Easy Homemade Granola
To make your own granola, gather a few basic ingredients like butter, oats, nuts, sweetener, spices, and egg whites. The egg whites act as a binding agent, holding the clusters together. This is your chance to get creative. With so many varieties of sweeteners, nuts, etc. you can adjust to suit your own tastes. Consider adding chocolate chips, toasted coconut, dried fruit, or nut butter. The recipe couldn’t be simpler: just combine the ingredients, spread on a baking sheet, and bake at 300 for 30 minutes. You’ll want to keep a closer eye on it though, as some ingredients may cook faster than others. After you remove it from the oven let the granola cool completely, then store in an air-tight container. You can store each batch for up to two weeks, so this is a little work that goes a long way!
Got a picky eater? Simply Quinoa’s Peanut Butter Banana Granola will be a morning game-changer!
Have dietary restrictions? Dr. Vikki Petersen will show you how to make grain-free, sugar-free granola!
