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I know that I've posted about making my own granola and granola bars before, but I swear I'm not slacking (well, today anyway) by just cobbling together old posts. The cool thing about making your own granola/bars is that you can customize the recipes according to your tastes. Don't like almonds? Use cashews. Want more coconut? Add it. It's not an exact science. I made these granola bars today for a healthy snack at work (don't ask) and I have to say that I got 100% positive feedback. Some people are even hoarding the extras for tomorrow's breakfast. But I guess it's not really considered hoarding if you're actually going to consume what you're hoarding, right? I mean, that's probably another show altogether...
Golden Granola Bars
(adapted from The Ski House Cookbook)
1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Combine the sugar, honey, and oil in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat just until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, coconut, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and salt in large bowl. Pour the sugar mixture over the oat mixture and stir to combine. Spread in a 9 x 13-inch pan and press evenly.
3. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes, or until golden. Cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into bars. Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan. Makes about 20 bars.
Remember way back to last week when it was nearly a million degrees?
Picture this: It’s the middle of summer. You’re late for work. You decide to grab breakfast and eat it on the way to work. “Oatmeal sounds good,” you think. Never mind that it’s 167 degrees and 3000% humidity. An iced latte and an ice cream sandwich might make more sense considering the weather, but you’re trying to be healthy and you’re starving. While you’re waiting for your train you decide to pop open that paper container of hot paste and start chowing down. (Wait. Are those banana slices on top??? I think I'm going to hurl.) Incidentally, you’re not waiting for your train in some air conditioned waiting room (cue Fugazi here) or on an elevated open air platform with a gorgeous view and a balmy breeze. No, this is the SUBWAY platform, the furthest place you can get from fresh air, where the only view is of stagnant water, rats, and crumbling tiles, illuminated only by the sickening glow of fluorescent lights. Pleasantries be damned, that oatmeal is calling your name so in the hot, humid, foul subway station, you slurp it up while I stare at you in shock and horror, sweat dripping down my face, neck, back, and legs. Not only is it a bazilion degrees, but it smells like a urinal. I can't take it. I'm feeling faint. For the love of God, stop! There are better ways to get your oats, and not on a subway platform. Check out my recipe links below:
(And don't worry. Fall's not here quite yet, despite this rainy NYC day. It will be a million degrees again starting this weekend, so there's still time to complain about the heat before launching into 4 months of complaining about the cold.)
Olive Oil Granola
Oatmeal (Cookie) Pancakes
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Extra Nutty Sour Cherry Olive Oil Granola
Get ready. There's a new moon on Monday and if you're into astrology, that's pretty significant. New moons signify new beginnings and the fact that this new moon is in Pisces...well, I don't have any idea what that means. Regardless I plan to try harder to stop eating junk (this time I really mean it!) so I made some granola bars chock full of healthy things like flax seed and wheat germ. Full disclosure: It took all of my being to not add chocolate. (The new moon phase must already be working!) I'll also be listening to Duran Duran on repeat all day (the photo above is from a concert in Central Park a few summers ago) so if you walk past me at any point during the day and overhear the same song playing again and again, just keep going.
Shake up the picture the lizard mixture
With your dance on the eventide
You got me coming up with answers
All of which I deny
I said it again
Could I please rephrase it
Maybe I can catch a ride
I couldn't really put it much plainer
But I'll wait till you decide
Send me your warning siren
As if I could ever hide
Last time La Luna
I light my torch and wave it for the
New moon on Monday
And a firedance through the night
I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite
What do these lyrics even mean???Peanut Butter Granola Bars
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup peanut butter
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Combine the sugar, honey, butter, and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
2. In a large bowl mix the oats, almonds, wheat germ, coconut, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and salt.
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir to combine. Transfer to a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and press evenly.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool for about 15 minutes before cutting into bars. Cool completely before removing the bars from the pan. Makes about 25 bars.
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