I was standing in the bulk aisle of Whole Foods the other day when I decided I needed to make my own granola. Let me explain.
I just figured out foods that are very high/extremely high in salicylates give me hives.* Raspberries, strawberries and green peppers seem to be the worst. And I will never touch fresh tarragon again.
But suddenly I'm wary of everything on the list. (Poor H-town is so frustrated. He doesn't know what he's allowed to cook.) Every effing granola in the bins at WF contained almonds or dried raspberries or dried cranberries or almonds.**
So here's what I bought:
1. Raw oats
2. Whole, raw cashews
3. Pumpkin seeds
4. Banana chips
Anyone have a recipe I could modify? Of course honey is also on the extremely high list. Can you even make granola without honey? Would it be sacrilegious to use good old fashioned sugar?
*This I need on top of a wheat sensitivity, right?
**Yes, I was consulting the list on my iPhone in the middle of the Hollywood Whole Foods (which has wifi, b/t/w). I was having a grupster moment.***
***Phew. I'm not a hippie.
(Image courtesy of my whimsy)
Ooh, I love homemade granola. A girlfriend of mine in New Mexico made her own - I'll ask her for her recipe.
ReplyDeleteLove the self-conscious hippie musings. As I recently wrote, I keep telling my f-word that I can't be a hippie because HIPPIES DON'T WEAR HOT SHOES. Right?
Dude, I caught myself with the mercury content list out the last time we went for sushi. I totally feel you on this one.
ReplyDeleteI always make my own.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could call it "earthy"? Because I am not a hippie, but I am very, um, earthy. Or something.
Sweetness possibilies: Stevia (but will turn granola green), agave nectar (don't add in with granola--add to milk or whatever you're eating on granola), cinnamon. You could also saute or bake the granola in pineapple juice or coconut oil. I have not checked any of these for salicylates.
try using molasses and a little sugar instead of honey...my sister's homemade granola uses molasses and it's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say molasses too. That might work.
ReplyDeleteI think you should rock your hippiness, ur, earthiness! As long as you don't start ranting about moon howls and you don't follow all of your statements with the word man, I think you will be fine.
Wait, maybe those are just stoners. Either way, I think you can have your granola and eat it too!
I'm not sure what else is on the list, but I used to make simple granola for breakfast at the good ol' YMCA (those kids probably thought I was a hippie though). Here is a recipe that uses maple syrup:
ReplyDelete3 c. rolled oats
1 c. unsweetened coconut
1 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. toasted wheat germ
1/2 c. sesame seeds (they digest better if ground)
1/3 c. maple syrup (can use honey)
1/3 c. melted butter
Stir together oats, coconut, nuts, wheat germ and sesame seed. Stir in maple syrup and butter. Spread in 15x10x1 baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once. After baked, stir in 1 cup raisins or 1 cup chopped dried fruit. Yields 7 cups.
hmmm, I have the same hive situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which is the bigger pain in my ass, checking labels constantly or the actual hives.
Me again. Research on the Internets suggests maple syrup is low in salic-------s. xo
ReplyDeletei use agave nectar when i make my granola. maple syrup is yummy too. call me a hippie, but i love making my own granola...and knowing exactly what i'm eating.
ReplyDeletehappy baking.
i don't like granola.
ReplyDeleteHere is the recipe I actually made last night...in the least hippie way possible.
ReplyDelete*and agave nectar is awesome as a honey substitute I used it as the majority wet ingredient and it worked like a charm
Dry Ingredients:
5 cups old fashioned oats
2 to 3 cups chopped Brazil nuts
1 cup flax seeds
1 cup raisins
2 tblsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup coconut
Wet ingredients:
2 tblsp canola oil
1 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup honey
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl combine all wet ingredients. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and mix well. Spread the mixture evenly onto baking sheets. It will probably fill two. Place them on the oven rack and cook for 35 minutes. Check every 10 minutes and stir the mixture so it will cook evenly. When its done and looks dark golden brown remove from the oven and set on cooling racks. Stir occasionally so it will cool evenly and not stick to the baking sheet.
food allergies are for the birds!!! i find the older i get, the more sensitive my system is. UGH.
ReplyDeleteI wonder this all the time. I definitely grew up in a hippie household and I sometimes think it might pop out as I get older.
ReplyDeleteDoes the fact that I do indeed have a granola recipe make me a hippie? I'll have to track it down, but it's pretty similar to some of the others posted here.
I started making my own granola after
ReplyDeletethis post.
It's seriously awesome and is made with brown rice syrup instead of honey which I see is on the "low" list. Good luck!
nice work on your site, such sweet posts~
ReplyDeleteI make toasted muesli without honey/ oil (because the sugar in the morning would kill me). Just stick the seeds'n'shit in the oven at 160C for 20 min or so (till they look toasted), let them cool, then mix them into the oats and shredded coconut. It's crunchy enough for me. And I eat it dry.
ReplyDeleteYou could try a simple syrup instead of the honey, since it's just sugar and water.
ReplyDeleteWeird, this just came up at work. This is essentially the Feingold diet (primarily to manage difficult behaviors etc. for kids and/or disabled) which focuses on decreasing salicylates. I guess preservatives & dyes/additives/etc. are big no-nos.
ReplyDeleteSidenote: he eats Freihoffer Rye bread.
Sorry, not to imply you have some beahvioral issues. Or do you? :) It was just a weird coincidence as I'd never heard of this before.
i just wanted to be part of the conversation. :) I actually really wish I liked granola. It must be so good for you.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I am twice the hippie you would ever hope not to be, I am sure. Even without the granola. You know what I had for dinner last night? Miso soup with tofu and *kale*.
jamie, I was raised on kale. My dad put kale from his own garden in my sandwiches instead of lettuce. And does your miso come out of a five gallon bucket?
ReplyDeleteI'll out hippie you any day. (Okay, my dad will out hippie you. Maybe that doesn't count.)
hilarious. i love the question that set off this entire conversation. it's a question that sometimes worries me too.
ReplyDeleteyou confuse me with your flip flopping position of defending your hippie-ness and distancing yourself from it.
ReplyDeletenonetheless, i will try never you cross you again.
and no, my miso does not come in a big tub.
xo
Sh*t jamie. Did I mention I'm a Gemini?
ReplyDelete