Spiced Granola

There is something so addictive about granola if it happens to reflect your personal tastes.  I tried this recipe out for the first time and was delighted with the results.  I will have to make a much larger batch the next time and store it for snacking purposes.

If eaten in moderation granola can be nutritious and can hit the spot when craving something to tide you over till your next meal.  The nuts and seeds in this granola add to the taste and  nutritive value of this snack. A playful sweetness bursts through the bites from  the addition of a small amount of mini chocolate chips of any flavor you prefer. Vegan chocolate chips can be substituted for vegans, or if you prefer no sweetness you can omit them completely. My favorite chocolate is white chocolate so that is what I used in the recipe.

In addition to having granola as a snack you can sprinkle a little on soups or salads to liven them up.

This recipe has been modified from "May I have that recipe ?"

Ingredients

1 cup oats ( I used Quakers one minute oats)
2 tablespoons shelled raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw pecan halves broken into smaller pieces
1/4 cup raw cashew nuts

1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
3 tablespoons Maple syrup ( I used low calorie pancake syrup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 tablespoon mini chocolate chips or vegan chocolate chips ( I used white chocolate)

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 275 F

Put the first four ingredients in a large bowl. Stir with a spatula to mix

Next add all the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips in a container.

Mix well with a whisk until all the ingredients are well blended.

Add the spice mixture to the oats mixture

Stir well so that all the ingredients are coated with the spice mixture.  Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spray lightly with a cooking oil.

 Spread the mixture in a single layer on the tray and put in the pre-heated oven for approximately 55 minutes.  Stir every 10 -15 minutes and put back in the oven.  Remove when the mixture is roasted and golden brown,  Do not burn.

 Let the mixture cool completely and then add the chocolate chips.  Save in an air tight container.

Approximate nutritional values based on 1/4 cup serving ( recipe yields 2 cups)
calories 189.6/ Total fat 13.5 g ( 6.6 g monounsaturated)/ Total carbs 15.8 g/ Protein 2.2 g