This is the first raw granola recipe that I have made. Although I have been wanting to make some since purchasing our dehydrator, it just hadn't worked out yet. I am very happy to announce, after eating tons of pre-packaged granola in my life, this one IS the best I've ever tasted!

Here's the story..... I recently went to a Cafe Gratitude, if you live in California and haven't been to one yet... GO! Find the closest location, take a trip, spend the weekend in the car and GO! When you get there, choose any item on the menu, or all of them, eat great food, take some to go if you can (for the long trip home) and don't forget to purchase the "I am Grateful" recipe book! Okay, you don't have to make a special trip, but the next time you travel, find a Cafe Gratitude along your path and make sure you're hungry! The closest Cafe Gratitude to me is almost 3 hours away. No, I didn't make a special trip, but the last time I went to the city I was blessed to be able to enjoy a meal in Healdsburg with my niece. I purchased a recipe book and we have now enjoyed several recipes, and can't wait to make more.

Here's the granola. I had to substitute some nuts, not because the flavor was lacking (since this was my first attempt), it's just what I had on hand. The recipe does mention to "adjust to your liking".

One great thing about making raw living food recipes that I have found is substitutions are very simple and don't ruin your recipe. No more quick trips to the store for eggs, baking powder or buttermilk! How many times has that happened to you while baking? It used to happen to me ALL THE TIME! Then I moved 15 minutes away from the closest market that isn't open 24/7. What do you do when you need that one ingredient for the cake that needs to be done the next day and you are baking it at 9:00 pm? I was always trying to find substitutes and they never really worked as well as the store bought stuff, IF you could find the alternative ingredients in your kitchen!

That's enough rambling... on with the photo and recipe.



I Am Great - Raw Granola recipe - by Cafe Gratitude

1 1/2 cups soaked almonds
1/2 cup soaked sunflower seeds
1/2 cup soaked whole buckwheat
5 cups grated apple, (about 7 small apples), any kind
1/2 cup pureed dates (about 7 large dates) soaked for about 15 minutes
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)
1/2 cup dry coconut flakes
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon salt

Rinse and drain the seeds. Place in food processor and quickly chop to reduce size of seeds only. Place mixture into large bowl. Grate apples, add to nut mixture. Puree dates in food process with the "S" blade attachment, if the dates are soaked for a short time (not too much or they'll be too soggy) it helps this process, if you forgot to soak the dates, add a little apple while pureeing, it will help. Add all the ingredients to the nut mixture and stir.

Prepare 2 dehydrator trays with Teflex sheets. Place 1/2 the mixture on each sheet, use your hands or a spreader to spread approx 3/8 inch thick. The mixture is moist, but that's a good thing, in the end it is wonderful and chewy. If you like it crunchy, use less apple. Dehydrate at 145 for 1 hour and then reduce temperature to 115 until done. When your granola is dry enough to peel off the Teflex sheets, do so and place onto the grid sheets. Continue to dehydrate until dry.

NOTES:
I made a double batch, I was pretty confident it would be wonderful. Approx drying time was 48 hours. Of course it will vary depending on the humidity. It was raining while my recipe was in the dehydrator.

The cost? Probably about the same as 2 boxes of regular granola bars...approx 12 to 16 bars. My double batch yielded 2 full 8 cup jars and about 3 cups of crumbs (that was on purpose, I wanted some for cereal). That's probably 20 bars per jar, 40-45 bars. It's chewy and crunchy at the same time. Get that dehydrator out of the box (I know you have one.... ) and make some granola for you and your kids!!! Nathan loved it, Ali said there was too much dried coconut. Next run we'll have a "coconut free" sheet for Ali.

Have a favorite granola bar? Look at the ingredients on the label. Can you picture all of them growing in a field or on a tree? What are we feeding ourselves and our kids? Now, ask yourself.... what's stopping me from making it at home?