Granola cereals: My style!

I never thought I could make granola cereals here in the Philippines. But luckily Chef John has good recipe that we can substitute with our local ingredients that’s available here in the city. I am not a cereal eater but with the granola I am into it.  Well, really Bob was the one saw the recipe and gave me the link. Watching the video it was really easy to make. The trick part for me was finding the local dried fruits that my kids will eat. Our youngest Jared, he is picky when it comes to what food he eats. He is so choosy. But luckily with the granola he is liking it a lot. He eats it as his snacks too just like Dad and siblings.

Take a look at the video of Chef John making granola:

Here’s the recipe that Chef John made:
Ingredients for about 6 cups of Granola

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (pure coconut, not candied)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chopped candy covered chocolate pieces (like M&M’s)
• 1/2 cup golden raisins, chopped
• 1 cup mixed dried fruit (any combo of cranberries, cherries, strawberries, blueberries.

My take on the recipe: Some changes from his recipe!

• 6 cups Australian oats (I like to used that brand since the oats were a bit bigger than the other brand)
• 1/2 cup or so of peanuts
• 1/2 cup cashew nuts
• a small amount of dried coconut from the dried mixed fruits
• 3/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pancake syrup
• 3 tablespoon of canola oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup or so of chocolate candy nips (similar with M&M, but you can use M&M too)
• 1/4 cup raisins, chopped
• 3/4 cup dried fruits (dried mango, dried pineapple, dried papaya)
• maybe 1/4 cup of dried cranberries

It was easy to follow the video that he showed. Just put together the oats, dried coconut, peanuts, cashews and salt. To make the syrup, just put the brown sugar, pancake syrup, oil in a pan, try to mix it and put in the stove (medium heat). Bring to a boil, leave it in the stove for almost a minute. Pour it on the oats mixture and mix it thoroughly. After mixing dump the oats mixture into the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Spread it evenly. Bake in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. I did bake my granola for 40 minutes total, but take out and stir every 10 minutes. Like what he said the cooking really depends on how brown you like your granola. Bob wants it the way he said on the video. When I made the first time I did put more than enough dried fruits. It was good but the dried fruits over power the oats. So now I made a few times and know how much dried fruits to put in it. Taste really good.

I’m really trying to use the local ingredients because it’s much cheaper than the imported one.  Next time I will make I will add dried banana. I am looking for a dried mangosteen. Hopefully it’s not expensive. I’ve seen all those ingredients on our malls here, they had at the grocery stores and the store called Healthy Option. But I am not going to pay a hefty price for it. Bob and the kids were okay with the local ingredients anyway. Gotta use the local then.

Every place here in the Philippines has different fruits. Try what good fruits you have there in your area. Like in Camarines area they might try the local nut that’s famous in that area “the pili nuts”. Let us know what fruits you include on your recipe, maybe that fruit might be available in our area too.

Like what chef John suggested it will be good as a give away gift.

Have fun making!