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Homemade Granola

Your mother wasn't wrong. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day! With breakfast, we get our metabolisms going and set the foundation for what and how we eat the rest of the day. Skip it, and we're prone to blood sugar crashes and poor meal choices. Tight schedules and busy mornings make convenience foods appealing, but if you think ahead just a bit, you can make your own grab-and-go breakfast. Planning is the key to healthy, sustainable eating, the secret defense against all things processed and packaged. Here's one of our favorite recipes for starting the day off right--homemade granola. Just pair with plain yogurt and seasonal fruit, and your day's off to a bright start!

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Can't get enough seasonal fruit? Check out our Market to Table: Seasonal Fruit cooking class and all our classes for summer cooking here.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

  • 1 c. unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 c. honey, maple syrup, or raw agave
  • 2 T. grapeseed or other neutral oil
  • 8 c. rolled oats
  • 1/2 c. sesame seeds
  • 1/2 c. pumpkin seeds
  • 1 c. pecan halves
  • pinch of sea salt

Preheat the oven to 325. In a smal bowl, combine applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey, maple syrup, or agave, and oil, stirring until combined. In a large bowl, combine oats, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans and salt, and toss to combine. Pour liquid ingredients over the oat mixture and mix thoroughly with your hands. Spread out on a large baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so, until golden brown and toasty. Cool the granola on the sheet and store in an airtight container or bag for up to three weeks or freeze for longer.