After the last post, some of you requested that I posted the recipe for the granola I was making on Sunday…so here you go!
It’s helpful to have a dehydrator, which is basically a low-temperature oven, to make raw granola. I keep mine around 105 degrees. 116 degrees is the temperature where the enzymes in food start to die and the properties of food get denatured, so a dehydrator, simply blows warm air over the food, dehydrating it over hours instead of cooking it at high temperatures.
The brand I have and like is Excalibur. The dehydrator is the tool I use to make all my flax crackers, vegetable crackers, etc., as well as harder cookies and treats, and marinated, crunchy nuts and seeds (like my spicy cayenne pumpkin seeds).
Dehydrating is a time commitment though— a few hours on the weekend like once a month is what it takes me to make all the flax crackers I need—- and its not really necessary when you’re starting out. By FAR the most important investment is a great blender (refer to vitamix vs blendec)!!!!
BUT that being said, if you don’t own a dehydrator, simply turn your oven on to the lowest possible setting, and leave the door cracked open. You can wedge something in the door to keep it cracked open and to keep it from shutting. That’s what I do when I travel without my dehydrator to a client’s house for a few days, and don’t want to lug it along.
- WET mixture:
- - 1 frozen packet of Acai* (available at Wholefoods and other health stores)
- - 1 cup organic Thompson raisins
- - ¾ cup raw coconut nectar or maple syrup
- - Juice of one lemon
- - 1 Tbs. vanilla extract
- - 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- - ¼ cup sunflower seeds (soaked for 3 hours and rinsed)
- - A pinch of high quality sea salt, to taste (optional)
- * Please note: Acai is a fat-containing fruit, so it digests pretty well with seeds. I don't recommend using apples or other fruits for this recipe.
- DRY mixture:
- - 1 cup Goji Berries*
- - 1 cup sunflower seeds (soaked for 3 hours and rinsed)
- - 1 cup pumpkin seeds (soaked for 3 hours and rinsed)
- - 2 cups almonds (soaked 14-28 hours and rinsed)
- - 3 cups pecans (soaked for 2 hours and rinsed)
- Please note: dried fruit combines well with nuts and seeds.
- Don’t get bogged down with all the sprouting times!
- Just remember to soak the almonds overnight, then remember to soak the other nuts a few hours before you make the granola.
- In a blender, blend the wet mixture until smooth.
- Chop all the nuts in the dry mixture (keeping as chunky as you like your granola!) then add them to a large mixing bowl, along with the Goji berries.
- Pour the wet mixture on top and mix well.
- Spread the granola on Teflex covered over the dehydrator trays and dehydrate at 110 degrees F for about 8 hours. Flip and keep dehydrating for another 8-10 hours, or until the granola is crunchy.
- Break into pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge. The granola will harden in the fridge!
Enjoy and let me know how you make out with this super yummy granola!
All my very best,
Kimberly
yay thanks Kim! my hubby loves granola bars so i shud seriously try this! if i use the oven on low heat do i still have to leave it that long to ‘cook’?
Hi Charlene!
If you use the oven on low heat it should get done in way less time…just remember that with any temperature used over 116 degrees the granola won’t be raw anymore…but it will still be yummy.
Let me know how it turns out!
Hi Kimberly–
I just wanted to tell you that every time I try one of your ideas, or incorporate something you’ve written about, I am shocked at the improvement in my life! I should stop being so suprised! I just got 2 jars of coconut oil, because I’ve seen it turn up a few times in your posts. I started using it–that’s going sort of slow, because it’s intimidating–and already for some reason I think my skin’s improving. I tried some in tea (which sounds gross but isn’t) and it really helped me stay focussed and energized, not hungry, for the rest of the afternoon. I think that will be a new ritual for me: an afternoon tea and meditation break. Hopefully with time my insides will benefit from the coconut oil too.
And you’re the best advertisement for The Solution. I think your other readers would agree!
Best,
Morgan
Hi Morgan,
That is awesome! I’m so happy that you are using the coconut oil. It will absolutely benefit your insides, and your skin and everything!
I’ve never tried it in tea, but that is interesting, and sounds good b/c it holds up to such high temperatures. What kind of tea do you put it in? I just saw a loose leaf tea that was Green Tea-Coconut! And it was super yummy.
Thanks for your encouragement for The Solution! She is my baby. :)
See you back here soon hopefully.
xx
Kimberly
Sounds yummy! Maple syrup is not raw though-but I do see it in many raw recipes.That picture of the dog is awesome! I don;t have a dehydrator but I can use my friends for certain recipes so it’s cool. I agree that the blender is more important to get started!
Come by to check out our raw/vegan event that happened last week in Athens http://www.veggie-wedgie.com/?p=705
Love xxx
You skin looks amazing.. Ive beein using the solution an LOVE IT!! what mineral powder do u wear?
Hi Gillian,
That’s awesome you love The Solution!!! Yay!!!
I like a very light mineral powder. I don’t like the cakey ones, like I feel that Bare Essentials makeup is…because I don’t like the feeling it is just sitting on my face! Believe it or not the one I’ve found that is the lightest and most natural looking is the mineral Physician’s Formula, which is the only drugstore makeup I’ve ever found to work good! :)
xx
Kimberly
Kim you look gorgeous in that pic! Hugs, DE
Hi my sweet Dominican beauty!!!
How are you??? Thanks for stopping by and I will see you on Beauty Logic soon.
Lots of love,
Kimberly
Hello, Kimberly!
I prepared your granola recipe this weekend, and it is spectacularly good! I’m especially pleased that sprouted nuts and seeds are a major component. I let everything sprout about twice long as recommended with no problems. Also, I’ve long wondered how you feel about vitamin supplements. Do you recommend? Or do you prefer relying upon good food rather than isolated vitamins? Thanks for all you do for all of us.
Love from Ariele!
Hi Ariele,
Awwww, lots of love right back at you girl!
That is great that you are into sprouting. I am going to write a more complete post soon on the whole topic.
I think wholefood supplements can be very beneficial. I prefer supplements that are in natural synergistic combinations, rather than an isolated mineral (like only zinc, only vitamin A, etc.).
Hope to see you again here soon!
Lots of love,
Kimberly :)
Aww thanks for posting the pic of Brittany! And thanks again for your great advice and recipes!
Hi darling Megan,
Thank YOU for sharing Brittany with us!!! I love her and I haven’t even met her. :)
Kimberly- Can you give the specifics on sprouting? I’ve read different things on different website on exactly how to do it for different seeds/nuts.
Thanks!
Jacki
Hi Jacki!
Yes I’ll do a whole post on sprouting soon. I’ve been meaning to but to but then something else always seems to pop up.
Stay tuned!!!
xx
Kimberly
Thanks, that will be very helpful. I attempted to do it the other day, then 2 days after my almonds were white and furry! YIKES!
Also, what dehydrator do you recommend? Are the ones under $40 any good?
Hi Jacki!
If your almonds are white and furry you must have left them chilling in the water too long. Be sure to keep them in the fridge also— you can rinse the water every day. I am going to do a more complete posting on the sprouting, so everything is more clear!
I recommend the Excalibur dehydrator! It is awesome. It is a couple hundred, but it works amazingly well and will last. Not sure about the cheap ones!!
Come back and visit.
xx
Kimberly
Kim,
I’m making this today, so whenever you think to answer this is fine. What about shelling the almonds? I remember Dharma saying that you should never eat the skins due to the tannin build-up after sprouting. He suggests blanching, which is what I did and then they pop right out of the skin. Do you do this or do you think peeling/blanching/removing the skin is unnecessary?
Much Love…always.
Leslie
Thanks Kim,cant wait to try it!Is there any substitutes for Arcai?
You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I in finding this matter to be actually one thing that I feel I would never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead to your next post, I will attempt to get the hold of it!
Hi Kimberly! I was wondering, in your book you talk about eating fruit by itself, on an empty stomach. How does this work, considering that?
Thanks! I’ve been learning alot from you lately. :)
Dried and raw fruits digest differently.
Anywhere I can find more information on the difference?
Hi Kimberly, I was wondering, can I use date syrup or honey instead of maple syrup?
Hey Kimberly,
I can’t finde Acai berrys here in germany. they’re just selling pills..
Can I use something else instead ? I know Acai a fat-containing fruit but can I use any other fruit instead ?
Hope someone can help me :'(
Alexia!
Hi,
it looks great, but isn´t 3/4 cup of coconut nectar/maple syrup an awful lot of sugar? Even if it´s natural compared to refined sugar, it´s still very sweet?
Maria
This recipe sounds great, I would like to make it but am hoping you have an idea of what I can replace the pecans with? My son has a severe allergy to pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts so an alternative seed or nut suggestion would be great!
I love this granola! Ive made several batches of it n the last 2-3 months, it’s a great snack to have on hand. I also love it with almond milk. Cheaper and probably much healthier than buying granola at the store. It’s pretty yummy! Since it a long process, i usually start the soaking process with the almonds when the granola i have on hand is about 2/3 gone. That way, i don’t run out.