Monday, June 13, 2011

Bowen Island Honeymoon Granola Recipe

also known as: Sarah MacVane's "Black Forest Granola" recipe

The Union SteamShip Co. Marina is a lovely place to stay on Bowen Island

While this recipe may have had its start in very different circumstances, I am forever going to remember it as the granola that made snack-time on Bowen Island so awesome!

Snug Cove, Bowen Island

Friends who cook for you are worth their weight in gold, aren't they?! Cherish them before they move away to the far reaches of the Canadian wilderness (or in Ash's case, California!). There really is nothing like heart-felt, handmade gifts, especially of the edible variety!

View from Artisan's Square, Bowen Island (Bowen-Horseshoe Bay ferry seen)

Thank you Mrs. MacVane for sharing this fantastic recipe, as well as a love of environmentalism and gardening. Maybe I can convince you to write a guest post on urban bee-keeping yet....!

Black Forest Granola

Makes about 10 cups

1 cup brown sugar
¾ cup organic maple syrup
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut, unsweetened
1 cup flax seeds
1 ½ cups almonds
1 cup dried cherries, lightly chopped
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (or 1/2 cup cacao beans chopped)

1. Preheat your oven to 350ยบ

2. Whisk brown sugar and maple syrup in a small saucepan on medium heat
until  blended.

3. Mix oats, coconut, flax seeds and almonds into a large bowl and then
pour in syrup stirring gently until the syrup coats everything.

4. Spread the onto a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for
twenty minutes on the middle rack.

5. Remove from oven and cool completely. Break into pieces and add the dried
cherries and chocolate.

Store in an airtight container and enjoy!


Deeeeelish!

Variations:

Cheeky Monkey
- skip the almonds, add  peanuts, chocolate and banana chips
after baking

Rainbow Bright - substitute Craisins (cranberries) for the cherries, and M&M's for the
chocolate chips

Happy Hippy - double up on the nuts and fruit (2 cups each), using any
combination of the following after cooking: raw almonds, pecans, hazel
nuts, goji berries, unsulphured chopped dried pears, nectarines, apricots,
cherries, mangoes etc. With dark chocolate or carob chips.

A Match Made in Heaven - use white chocolate chips instead of dark, dried raspberries or strawberries, and hazelnuts in place of the almonds.

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