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Published: Tuesday, Jul. 10, 2012 / Updated: Tuesday, Jul. 10, 2012 04:01 PM

Mother's granola is down to earth

I remember exactly the first time my mother served some “new fangled” food called granola. It was July 6, 1968. My husband and I were visiting my parents at the time. When we came down to breakfast that morning there it was, in a pretty bowl on the kitchen table next to the orange juice. It looked like some sort of crazy mixed-up cereal.

My husband, suspicious of anything new, took a pass on it. My father just looked amused and ate his daily breakfast of bacon and eggs without saying a word.

Mother cheerfully served some to me and I liked it. I REALLY liked it.

  • howto1-B821630545Z
    "Mother’s Granola 1 cup honey 1 cup oil 1 cup water 5 cups old-fashioned oatmeal 1 cup roasted peanuts 1 cup wheat germ 1 cup sunflower seed kernels 1 cup soy nuts 1 cup dry milk powder Combine honey, oil, and water. Put all other ingredients in a large bowl. Pour liquid mix over the dry ingredients and stir well. Spread mixture over 3 flat pans (about 10” x 15”). Bake in a 275 oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool and store in tins. If you want to make it more like “trail mix,” add dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, apricots, or raisins) right before serving.

I don’t know what inspired mother to make granola. I don’t know whether she went on a sudden health kick or just wanted to be on the cutting edge of the latest culinary trend, but I’m guessing the latter. Mother wasn’t a tree-hugging, yoga-loving, health food nut. She was quite the opposite actually.

I’d love to know where she got her recipe because it’s a good one. She copied it down for me on a convenient piece of paper – the tear-off calendar page from that day, which is why I know exactly when I first tried it.

Today when I make mother’s granola I still use that very yellowed calendar page. It’s pretty sad looking now, all folded and spattered, but her handwritten recipe is still as good as gold.

This recipe makes a big batch but don’t worry, it won’t last long. My favorite way to enjoy granola is to eat it right out of the bowl. It’s a great snack food. I also like it for breakfast with milk poured over it. Either way it’s delicious.

Mother’s granola is chock full of good healthy ingredients but you’d never know it. This may just be the perfect food. It’s crunchy, sweet, AND good for you. Who knew? Who cares? Just enjoy.