choco peanut butter crunch

it's been quite some time since i made granola and i think it's about time for a new recipe. i don't think i could go wrong with this one - chocolate & peanut butter granola!

deliciously organic's recipe for chocolate peanut granola

ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
• 4 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 3/4 cup white sesame seeds
• 2/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 cup organic whole cane sugar or sucanat
• 2 cups raw peanuts
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

directions:

1. preheat oven to 300°f and adjust rack to middle position.
2. mix everything together very well in a large mixing bowl.
3. spread the mixture evenly on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper and bake for 45 minutes, turning over half-way through baking.
4. cool completely before serving.
5. crumble and store in an airtight container.

"for i, the LORD, love justice; i hate robbery and iniquity. in my faithfulness i will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them."

isaiah 61:8

all about granola

if anyone knows me well, they know my infatuation with granola. it's probably the #1 thing i make in college.

i like it plain, with yogurt, on pancakes, in a parfait, in the form of a bar, as a topping for froyo, and the list goes on and on!

the best granola i have ever had is at my favorite breakfast spot, legal grounds. it is this way cool restaurant that made its home in an old legal office. in the morning it serves as the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee with some granola while reading the newspaper. then at night, it transforms into a charming greek restaurant.

check out these two websites where you can customize your own granola:

mix my granola and me & goji

i'm just dying to try them! you get to pick your grains, add whatever you like (dried fruit, chocolate chips, coconut, etc) and presto! you have your own, personalized granola mix

if you are really craving some addictive granola, try this recipe i have adapted from others:

ingredients:

• 3 cups of oats
• 1/2 cup of wheat germ
• 1 cup of sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut
• 5 tbsp of honey
• 3 tbsp of pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp of canola oil
• 1/2 block of 3.5oz of 70% dark chocolate, chopped

directions:

• preheat oven to 300 degrees
• in a large bowl, combine dry ingredients (oats, wheat germ, almonds, coconut)
• in a saucepan, combine honey, maple syrup, canola oil
• melt ingredients together for a couple of minutes on medium-low heat--just to loosen up the ingredients
• pour melted ingredients over dry and stir until the oats are evenly covered
• spread ingredients over baking sheet and bake for a total of 20 minutes (be very careful to NOT BURN)
• half way through the baking, mix ingredients
• after letting granola cool, add chocolate
• devour, then bake another batch.

hope i left you all drooling

"in your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. in your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

exodus 15:13