Homemade Granola

Ingredients

• Rolled Oats - 2 cups
• Chopped almonds - 1/4 cup
• Chopped cashews - 1/4 cup
• Raisins - 1/4 cup
• Dried cranberries - 1/4 cup
• Brown sugar - 1/4 cup
• Honey or Maple syrup - 1/4 cup
• Vegetable oil - 1/4 cup
• Cinnamon powder - 1/4 tspn
• Salt - 1/2 tspn

health tip

Granola is packed with vitamins, minerals & fiber. It is a wholesome meal for breakfast.

Homemade Granola

method

1. Mix the brown sugar, honey & vegetable oil in a large bowl until they blend together
2. Add the oats, chopped nuts, salt & cinnamon powder to the liquid mix & toss them all together.
3. Spread the mixture evenly in a cookie sheet & bake it in the oven at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.
4. At every 10 minute interval take the cookie sheet out of the oven & flip the granola using a spatula.
   

   Dry fruits & nuts of any choice can be added. Exclude fruits & nuts from this recipe if you are planning to have the granola as a topping for your yogurt.

   
   
5. The granola will still be soft after 25 minutes, but will turn crispy when cooled. Finally, mix in the dry fruits & store it in an air tight container. It will be fresh for 1 week when left outside & for a month when stored in a freezer.
   

Coconut milk porridge (Thengai Paal Kanji)

Ingredients

• Raw rice  - 1/2 cup
• Moong dhal - 2 tbspn
• Fenugreek (methi) seeds - 1/4 tspn
• Coconut milk - 3/4 cup
• Garlic - 4 pod

health tip

Moong dhal is rich in protein. Fenugreek is a natural source of iron, silicon, sodium and thiamine and helps in soothing and relaxing inflamed tissues. Garlic has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Coconut milk porridge (Thengai Paal Kanji)

method

I learned this recipe from my Mom. Back in India, my Mom used to make this porridge every other weekend because it is good for health & the fenugreek in the recipe cools down the body. Soon after I left India I rarely made this dish except during the summer times. I was about to post this recipe for the "cooking with seeds" event but I am past the event date. Please be aware the recipe uses coconut & if you are conscious about cholesterol you may want to tone its quantity down a bit.

1. Dry roast the rice, moong dal & fenugreek seeds till they all give out a nice aroma. Let them cool.
2. When cooled, wash them & pressure cook them with chopped garlic for 3 whistles or till the rice gets soft.
3. Grind the coconut & squeeze out the milk while the rice is cooking.
4. Mash the cooked ingredients & add coconut milk & salt. Turn on the stove & let it heat for 2 minutes. You don't want to over heat it. Serve it with garlic pickle .
   

   This Kanji can be made using mixed beans like Green gram, Red beans & other smaller beans you have along with Kambu, brown rice, red rice & black rice. Soak the beans overnight & cook it with other ingredients. Beans doesn't have to get mushy. Eliminate the garlic. Brown sugar or jaggery can be replaced for salt in both the methods.