Seedy Granola Food

SUPER SEEDY GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Toast your oats and almonds in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 13-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
• Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency (mine rolled into a ball).
• Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl. Add seeds and set aside.
• Warm agave and peanut or almond butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout. Use a spoon or your hands to thoroughly mix.
• Transfer to an 8×8 dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (Or use 2/3 of a 9×13 // as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size)
• Cover with parchment or plastic wrap and press down with something flat, such as a book, to get them really packed tight. This will help them from being crumbly. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden.
• Remove bars from dish and chop into 10 even bars (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn't necessary.

NUT-AND-SEED GRANOLA

Steps:

• Position an oven rack at the bottom of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Whisk the maple syrup and oil together in a large bowl. Add the almonds, pecans, coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseed and salt, and toss to coat.
• Spread the mixture out on a baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove it from the oven, and scrape and toss the mixture around. Continue to bake until golden and still slightly sticky, 10 to 12 minutes more. Or, for a deeper, toasted version, bake until deeply golden (you may start to smell the toasted nuts), 13 to 15 minutes more. Let cool. (The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.)

SEEDY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Soak the raisins for 5 minutes. Stir the dry ingredients together. In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients together (adding the raisins last), then combine the mixture until well mixed.
• Pour and spread out the granola on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Scramble the granola and break it into some smaller pieces, then bake for another 10 minutes. Scramble the granola around once again and turn off the oven - Keep the granola inside the oven for about another 10 minutes.
• Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

NUTS & SEEDS GRANOLA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan gas 4. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment to prevent the granola from sticking. Put all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the almond extract, vegetable oil and maple syrup in a jug, then pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
• Mix together well, making sure that all the dry ingredients are well coated and that there are no dry bits. Tip the mixture onto the lined baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Cook for about 25-30 mins until golden. You will need to give the mixture a few turns every 8-10 mins to make sure it dries out evenly and doesn't clump together too much. Keep an eye on it as nuts can burn easily.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on the tray. Break up any large clumps of granola with a wooden spoon. Will keep for up to one month in an airtight container. Serve with milk or yogurt, and fresh seasonal fruit, if you like.