Plain Jane Granola

When it comes to certain foods, I have always been somewhat of a Plain Jane.

Hamburger?

Plain, please. Maaaybe with cheese if I am feeling crazy.

Pancakes?

You can keep the butter but I’ll take the syrup. But just a little bit.

Ice cream sundae?

I'll pass on the whipped cream, cherry and nuts. Just the ice cream and the hot fudge, please.

This brings me to my recent quest for the perfect granola. I really like the idea of granola.  However, the granola I find at the store either tastes like the plastic bag it is sold in or else has an untenable amount of nuts and raisins to suit my taste. Because I now have a bit longer commute to work and am always trying to find ways to save money, I am trying to eat a healthy breakfast at home prior to leaving for work each morning. And, because I want to spend as much time as I can with my son before I leave home for work, I want something that is easy and doesn’t require cooking each morning.

Finally I decided, why not make my own granola? Significantly modifying a recipe I found online, I omitted most of the nuts and a few other ingredients to create a delicious and stripped down granola. For me, the rolled oats and what they are coated in makes or breaks granola for me. During summer, there is a variety of fresh fruit in season that nicely compliments granola so I was even more eager to go sans the copious nuts and raisins in my granola.

All you need to make this hearty granola is rolled oats, maple syrup, butter, pecans (or any nuts you want to add) and cinnamon.

I melted the stick of butter (you can use less than a stick if you prefer) and added the melted butter and maple syrup to the oats and mixed thoroughly. Next, I added in cinnamon and stirred the mixture one last time. Then I spread the oats on a baking sheet and baked for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. I turned the oats with a spatula half-way through the baking process.

I would also highly recommend using a silpat mat when baking the granola. It makes clean-up so easy and nothing sticks to the pan nor do you have to worry about greasing the pan.

Over the weekend I layered granola between layers of organic, low-fat vanilla yogurt and topped it with fresh raspberries. My Plain Jane Granola was crunchy and a little sweet. The chopped pecans were about the same size as the oats and therefore blended together perfectly so that each bite of granola was a perfect harmony of oats and nuts and one ingredient did not overpower the other.

As I mentioned, you can personalize your granola. Adding dried fruit like unsweetened cranberries, different kinds of chopped nuts or fresh fruit to top your own granola parfait are all great options. This is delicious for breakfast layered between yogurt or even as a snack on the run. My husband said he will take the Plain Jane Granola with him for a healthy snack on the golf course and I caught myself grabbing a handful here and there while I worked around the house this weekend.

Plain Jane Granola
Ingredients
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon (you can use more if you prefer)
 
Details
*Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
*Pour four cups old-fashioned rolled oats into medium bowl.
*Melt butter and add to oats along with the maple syrup and cinnamon. Stir well with a spatula.
*Spread mixture evenly on a baking sheet using a silpat mat if you have one.
*Bake for 30 minutes and turn the oats with the spatula half-way through baking.
*Add dried fruit if you'd like or serve with yogurt and top with fresh fruit.