Homemade Cereal Food

BUDGET-FRIENDLY HOMEMADE CEREAL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray 10x15 jelly roll pan with butter-flavor Pam. (I also spray both bowls and the spatula I use to mix the cereal, then nothing sticks and clean up is easy.).
• In a small bowl, mix together oil, syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Pour over oats in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Spread evenly in the pan, and bake for 10 minutes, stir and bake 9 more minutes. (If you use a dark pan, shorten cooking time by 1 or 2 minutes.).

HOMEMADE CEREAL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix oats, wheat germ, and wheat bran.
• In a medium bowl, blend brown sugar, vegetable oil, honey, and water. Mix in vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir the brown sugar mixture into the oat mixture until evenly moist, and transfer to a large, shallow baking dish.
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, until lightly brown. Mix dates, pecans, and coconut into the dish, and continue baking about 15 minutes. Allow to cool, and store in airtight containers.

HOMEMADE CORN FLAKES CEREAL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and grease lightly with oil or baking spray.
• Whisk 1 cup of the cornmeal with the sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla extract and 3/4 cup water, a little at a time, stirring until the batter is smooth and thin. If it's too dry, add additional water. You want something the consistency of pancake batter.
• Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly. (It won't reach the edges, but that's OK. You want a nice thin layer, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.)
• Combine the remaining 1/2 cup cornmeal with 1 teaspoon water and mix until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs; add an additional teaspoon or 2 of water, if too dry.
• Sprinkle the top of the batter with the cornmeal crumbs (this will help give it a little extra crunchy texture).
• Bake on the center rack, keeping a close eye on it, until the dough has dried out and cracked, 10 to 15 minutes. You're looking for a cracked arid-desert landscape look to it.
• Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F. Let the baking sheet cool, then use your hands to tear and crack the dough into small flakes. Return to the oven and bake on the center rack until the pieces are toasted, crisp, and golden, about 45 minutes.
• Let cool completely before serving with milk or as you would any cereal. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 2 weeks.

HEALTHY HOMEMADE GRANOLA CEREAL

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, pecans, brown sugar and salt (if using); mix well.
• In another bowl, mix the oil, honey, water and vanilla.
• Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Spread over a jelly-roll pan sprayed with nonstick spray.
• Bake at 300°F for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
• The last 10-15 minutes add the raisins.
• The granola will brown as it cooks.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container.
• ENJOY!

HOMEMADE WHEAT FLAKES CEREAL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with oil.
• Whisk together the whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mix the honey and vanilla with the water in a liquid measuring cup, then slowly pour the liquid in a stream into the flour mixture, stirring constantly, until it becomes a pourable batter (like a thin pancake batter); add more or less water as necessary. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, then use an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly all the way to the edges, smoothing the top so that it is quite thin (you can also use a rolling pin and roll the batter out between two sheets of parchment paper). It should be no more than 1/4 inch thick.
• Bake until the top is dry and begins to crack, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool until it is cool enough to handle, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F.
• Break the baked layer into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces. Spread the broken pieces evenly on the same baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through and redistributing on the baking sheet, until the flakes are dried and crisp, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool completely. The cereal can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

HOMEMADE CEREAL BARS

Steps:

• In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
• Remove from heat. Add cereal. Stir until well coated.
• Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool.
• Cut into 2-inch squares. Can be stored in airtight container for 1 days or freezer for 3 weeks.