photo by Pinot & Dita

For years granola has been touted as a healthy alternative to chips, candy bars and other high calorie snacks. Yet a look at most mass-produced granola shows that they are in fact just as bad as the snacks we are trying to avoid. Rather than giving up granola completely, a healthy option is to make your own so you can control what goes into it. No more artificial ingredients and no more picking out the raisins if you don't like them.

The base of granola is made up of oats. Be sure to use old-fashioned oats, not quick oats. The rest of the ingredients is up to you. Use your favorite nut or try an assortment of them. Do you like dried fruits? Try cranberries, blueberries, dried mango, or chopped apricots. Seed lovers may want to add sunflower or pumpkin seeds. For a sweet touch to lure in the kids add mini carob or chocolate chips. You may want to experiment with themed combinations, such as dried pineapple, shaved coconut and macadamia nuts. Spices like ground cardamom, cayenne, and cumin can add an exotic, savory flavor.

You'll need a liquid sweetener to bind the ingredients together, usually honey or molasses. Don't forget to add a touch of salt to accentuate the sweetness. Then bake until nice and golden brown. The particular recipe you use will result in either firm-packed granola that can be sliced into bars or loose and crumbly, cereal-like granola.