Easy Home made Granola

Granola is a breakfast and very popular snack in America consisting of rolled oats, nuts, dry fruits, honey and sometimes puffed rice is used, usually baked till crisp. They make for an easy breakfast on the run, snack  or filling addition to the lunch box. Unlike the store bought one's these are fresh and made from wholesome ingredients you like. These bars are semi soft without being cookie like and dont crumble.

Preparation time : 15 mins

Cooking time : 30 mins

Yeilds : 8 2" /4" bars

Difficulty : Easy

Ingredients :

1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (cashew and almonds)

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1/2 cup dry fruits (raisins, candied orange peel, raisins)

1/2 cup apricot preserve

1 tbsp ghee/ butter

1 tbsp honey

Other equipment : 

Bread loaf pan

grease proof paper/ baking paper

sharp knife

pan to cook

food processor

Method : 

• Pre heat oven on 200 c .
• Roast nuts in microwave for a min
• Coarsely chop the nuts. 

• Heat pan add apricot preserve and cook till melts.
• Add mix dry fruits and ghee, cook for a min.

• Add nuts, oats and desiccated coconut , stir well and cook for a min.
• Spread this mix in loaf pan lined with grease / baking paper.
• Press firmly and bake for 200 c for 15 mins.

• Remove from oven and let it cool in pan. Cut with the help of sharp knife and cool on wire rack.
• Store in airtight container.

Notes:

• Press the mix firmly or else you would end up with granola not the bar.
• Place the pan on the top most rack of the oven or else it will burn from the sides.
• Allow it to cool completely, as it firms and is easy to cut.
• Store in airtight container, it will keep good upto a week at room temp and in refrigerator for a month.

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Benefits of Rolled oats for Kids : 

1. Oatmeal boost a kid's brain power
2. Eating oatmeal lowers kid's risk of juvenile diabetes, pediatric obesity and heart diseases because of low Glycemic Index 
3. May boosts kids immune system. Beta-glucans, a carbohydrate derived from the cell walls of oat, have been shown to enhance immune system activity
4. Oats are higher in protein higher than other whole grains, and may help reduce the incidences of asthama.
5. Finally oatmeal is chock full if fiber, and kids need fiber to help move food through the digestive system. Dietary fiber may protect against cancers, constipation's and lowers LDL (bad cholesterol)