Snacking with Granola

I love snacks. Sometimes I enjoy having a snack more than an actual meal. I carry snack with me everywhere I go, even before I became a mom, you're sure to find a granola bar, cheese stick, crackers, trail mix, or a few cookies in my purse. I'm definitively not capable of waiting for y next big meal- I need a snack in between, or I'm super cranky!

At home I like to have cheese and crackers, fruit, toast with peanut butter and banana, sliced apples with peanut, and yogurt as a snack. My favorite snack at home is yogurt, or a yogurt bowl, as I like to call it. I empty out a container of yogurt and add granola, chocolate chips, honey or agave, and fruit. 

I was thrilled to be contacted by Ladera Granola to taste their product. There granola is "made from all natural ingredients" and it is roasted "at low temperatures to preserve the full-bodied flavor".

Honestly, I can really taste the difference. It really does taste like a batch of fresh homemade granola; I was so impressed from the moment I opened the bag to when I tasted it all on its own. It's good stuff! It smells heavenly too, with all that cinnamon. My favorite thing about this granola? The pecans! Huge pecans that have been roasted to bring out their flavor. They're almost like candy, I could sit and shift through the bag just to eat the pecans.

I'm so glad more and more companies are trying to keep their products natural, ingredient list down, and looking for ways to be energy efficient. Ladera Granola's packaging is 100% recyclable. I'm going to be so disappointed when this bag runs out, it really is my new favorite granola. 

I was given a product to test from Ladera Granola, however all opinions are my own. 

Easy Homemade Granola

 In between meals, I love to snack.

I try to keep my snacks on the healthy side. Occasionally I'll have something like Nutella with graham crackers, but usually, I'll have fruit, string cheese, cheese and crackers, or yogurt. Yogurt is by far my favorite snack. It's so versatile and I change it up based on what I'm in the mood for. I don't like to eat it plain, so I might chop up strawberries or bananas, add a drizzle of honey, or pour in granola. I LOVE granola. My favorite mixes to buy are Nature's Best pumpkin granola or Love Crunch. I love the dark chocolate chunks and dried raspberries.

Recently I wanted to try making my own granola. I have in the past, but I didn't like it as much as my store bought brands. However, this granola does the trick. Cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla extract is in this recipe and I love the hint of cinnamon in the background. As it roasts in the oven, your kitchen will smell heavenly. The nuts are added at the very end just to toast them and enhance their flavor. Have you tried toasted hazelnuts or almonds before? They are SO good.    

I added dried cranberries to mine, but you can add whatever you like. Raisins, cherries, dried blueberries or bananas. Whatever you have on hand!

Source: slightly adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking
Servings: 1 pound

2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup almonds
1/3 cup whole hazelnuts
1/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined. Pour the honey mixture over the oats and use to hands to combine.

Using your hands, grab fistfuls of the mixture, so you'll have a couple of clumps for texture. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it out, leaving a few clumps here and there.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven to flip the granola with a spatula. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return to the oven. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven again and flip. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the granola. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Sprinkle the cranberries over the granola and use your hands to transfer it to an airtight container. Granola will keep for 1 week.