Ingredient: walnuts

Granola 2

This is probably one of our top five recipes that require a lot of time. However, most of the time is “waiting”.

Allan prefers muesli to granola. I enjoy muesli, but I like the crunch of granola. So, when I discovered dehydrating granola, instead of baking it, we tried it. It is a favorite, and I make it when I have the extra time.

I use raw nuts in this recipe because I soak them and then dehydrate for a different taste to the nuts. I have also learned that soaking and dehydrated seeds are often recommended because of health benefits. If you are interested in learning more, a lot of research can be done online. I would recommend dehydrating as much as your machine will hold at one time to save on time later.

Be creative when personalizing this recipes. Macadamia and hazelnuts are good nuts to add. Cocoa nibs and dried tart cherries are great additions. Use more oats and less nuts if desired. If you want to use less maple syrup, increase amount of raisin “slurry”. If you prefer to bake this, see notes. This is a very adaptable recipe.

Granola

There are so many different recipes for granola. This one is very versatile, so experiment to find favorite combinations. For example, use all pecans, or add pepitas in place of the almonds. Replace cherries with dried mango slices or peaches. Another option is to try adding hemp hearts or flax seed near the end of baking.

I would recommend keeping track of favorites, because it can become addictive, experimenting to find the perfect granola.

Chocolate, Cherry, Walnut, No Knead Bread

This easy, no knead bread recipe can be varied in many ways. This is one of our favorites.

This recipe does make a huge loaf of bread. If desired, use all unbleached flour or experiment with your favorite ratio of white and wheat. The finished bread freezes well once completely cooled, but if you prefer to make a smaller loaf, see measurements at the end of the recipe.