Granola Bars - fabulous

[leslie]

This was the first raw item I built into my routine, and after 5 months and countless batches, my family panics when the jar is close to empty. My own recipe - kinda proud of it. Enjoy!

* All ingredients are estimates. I never measure and vary ingredients each time.

4 cups raw oats
2 cups raw wheat oats
1/4 cup flax seed
1 cup chopped nuts of your choice
6 good shakes cinammon
4 good shakes allspice
raisins and/or dates to taste
1/4 cup raw honey
1/8 cup maple
1/2 - 1 cup water

Mix all dry ingredients by hand. Add honey, maple and water and mix thoroughly until texture is moist enough to form a ball. If too dry, add a little water. Try it and see if you like the taste - I usually add more honey. Either form into patties, or my latest is putting it on my marble chopping board and packing it down into a large patty, packing down tightly and pushing in the sides to make as dense as possible. Then cut into bars about 2" x 3". Dehydrate overnight. Nothing like one right out of the dehydrator for breakfast. And the crumbs at the bottom of the jar make for great cereal.

Options: I often put in a cup or two of apple pulp from my juicer (I like to run it through my food processor with the water for a finer texture). Have also tried this method with juiced cranberries.

[RawTruth]

Hi Leslie,

These sound great, but could you clarify a few things? What exactly do you mean by "oats" -- are they rolled oats that aren't steamed? Or groats? What are "wheat oats"? And, where do you get raw maple syrup? I'd like to try this, but I want to be sure to stay raw.

Thanks!!

[leslie]

Keeping in mind I'm new at all this, so my terminology may not be 100% accurate. I buy my oats at Wild Oats in the bulk section. The regular oats are rolled oats, but not the quick oats (are these technically called groats? the bin does not say this). Right next to that bin are the wheat oats. Both are rather thick in comparison to the quick oats. My honey jar says 'raw', but actually my maple doesn't say 'raw', just organic. You can leave that out and they are still wonderful.

[Rawkinlocs]

Oat groats are the oats before any rolling takes place. They're the whole oat like what wheat berries look like.

The rolled oats, even if not "quick oats" from what I've heard aren't technically raw because there is heat involved in the rolling process I think.

But I make a grawnola similar and I also add sprouted buckwheat...gives it an even nicer crunch! Love it broken up into a bowl with banana milk or sunflower seed /banana milk...Mmmm

[RawTruth]

Rawkinlocs, do you dehydrate your sprouted buckwheat first? Hey, how 'bout you put your recipe up? I'd love it!!

[leslie]

Just two days ago I made mine with the sprouted buckwheat as well. Made it a little crispier. Make sure you keep a broom handy with this granola - my daughter teases me that I make most of the mess because you can't take a bite without a piece or two flying.

[leslie]

Well, according to McCann's website, "As the steaming partially cooks the oats, rolled oats require less cooking than pinheads.", they apparently aren't 100% raw. I thought I was doing it right. Do I get kicked out by spreading false 'raw gossip' : )

But I can say by eating them so much, I feel great, my iron count is up tremendously, and regularity is not an issue : )

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, it's not really a "recipe" per se...but I'll post what I did this last time around (oh about the buckwheat, I DO sprout and dehydrate it for future use, but if I'm gonna end up drying it anyways with the granola, I don't bother and as the granola as a whole dries, it still gets nice and crunchy):

Oat groats (soaked overnight and draind and I use the steel-cut ones)
buckwheat (soaked overnight and sprouted about a day, day and a half)
almonds
pumkin seeds
...hold the phone, it's actually just a knock-off of the "Imposter Caramel Corn" recipe which is in the thread "Popcorn replacements".

I ended up adding the oat groats, buckwheat, some raw honey (or agave for those who don't use honey), cinnamon and vanilla. Remember the ORIGINAL recipe for Imposter Caramel Corn calls for only the raisin soak water, but I use the soak water AND the raisins in this mixture.

Now, also, I didn't pour the stuff over it while on the dehydrator sheet. I first kinda pulse-chopped the nuts, seeds and grain in the processor but this isn't a necessary step, just my personal preference. I then mixed everything together in a bowl and spread it on the dehydrator sheet (or fruit roll tray) and dehydrated at 105 overnight and into the middle of the next day. I put it in last night and by this afternoon, it was pretty much ready although, the longer it stays in, the crunchier it gets. I like it both pliable (spread almond butter on it...Mmmm) and crunchy (plain or as I described, broken up with a "milk" of your choice...I personally don't care for almond milk).

The recipe as it's written in Gabriel Cousens book is delicious, but with the oats and buckwheat, it has more of a "cereal" taste to me. I love it either way!

[RawTruth]

No, you get to stay for a while longer! ;)

Now you've got me wanting something sweet .. and I'm all out of desserts. I'd whip up one of Alissa's great tortes or something, but I burned up my food processor. Grrrr! These are the moments when a piece of fruit just doesn't do it. Maybe I'll just stir some almond butter and honey together and drip it over banana slices. Anything to keep me from running to the convenience store to buy some chocolate!

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, according to McCann's website, "As the steaming partially cooks the oats, rolled oats require less cooking than pinheads.", they apparently aren't 100% raw. I thought I was doing it right. Do I get kicked out by spreading false 'raw gossip' : )

But I can say by eating them so much, I feel great, my iron count is up tremendously, and regularity is not an issue : )

Not even (the "getting kicked out" part)! We're all on different paths of raw here, no judgements here! You gotta do what you gotta do and for sure it's better than Nature Valley or NutriGrain bars! ;)

[Allison]

A friend of mine has a small manual machine that rolls her oats/wheat/whatever, so it really is raw. The machine works great, and it's easy to use.

[Rawkinlocs]

No, you get to stay for a while longer! ;)

Now you've got me wanting something sweet .. and I'm all out of desserts. I'd whip up one of Alissa's great tortes or something, but I burned up my food processor. Grrrr! These are the moments when a piece of fruit just doesn't do it. Maybe I'll just stir some almond butter and honey together and drip it over banana slices. Anything to keep me from running to the convenience store to buy some chocolate!

Oh YEAH...good 'ole bananas and almond butter...one of my main staples!

And if you have any apples, try slicing them into thin rounds...well, shape doesn't matter, and spread that almond butter mixture on it or just dip it in and for a real treat, add some cinnamon and raisins if you have them...yummy!! I call them little miniture apple pies when I eat it that way!

[Rawkinlocs]

A friend of mine has a small manual machine that rolls her oats/wheat/whatever, so it really is raw. The machine works great, and it's easy to use.

I've also heard of people beating them with a rolling pin!

[leslie]

Today is my first day on this site. I can not tell you how excited I am to find you all! I've been learning about this pretty much on my own after my RAW guru friend moved to Oregon. I've learned a lot, but think my learning curve won't be so great anymore. You're all wonderful. Now I just have to figure out how to drag myself away from my computer!

[RawTruth]

Leslie, you've found a great site. I like the friendliness and supportiveness of everyone I've found here. I know what you mean about dragging yourself away from the computer. I'm still discovering (or trying to) the most efficient way of checking out new posts, reading journals, etc. without spending too much time sitting here in front of the screen!

And if you have any apples, try slicing them into thin rounds...well, shape doesn't matter, and spread that almond butter mixture on it or just dip it in and for a real treat, add some cinnamon and raisins if you have them...yummy!! I call them little miniture apple pies when I eat it that way!

Rawkinlocs -- that did it! I'm off to make some right now!