The Very Best Granola

Moderately Virtuous, Toasty, Golden And Not Too Sweet

I’m one of those people that chooses my produce as carefully as my skincare, points to the specific baguette I want at the bakery and, to the occasional weariness of my family, makes just about everything from scratch because I’m both extremely particular and a bit of a try-hard.

And so, when I started making my own granola fifteen or so years ago, I wanted something that dialed down the cloying sweetness found too often in store-bought granola, honed in on the subtle savory flavor of olive oil and emphasized skin nourishing and gut health boosting ingredients.

I start with organic, whole rolled oats - a great source of fiber and truly what I would consider a beauty food. Why?

• Oats are rich in zinc, which plays a vital role in collagen synthesis, supports detoxification and normalizes overactive oil gland activity.

• Oats are also packed with Manganese, a mineral your body uses to make energy and protect cells from damage. It promotes wound healing, reduces swelling and protects against premature aging.

To the oats, I add coconut flakes for their beneficial fiber, potassium and iron, olive oil for the delicate, almost savory flavor, my favorite deep and dark maple syrup, which is rich in antioxidants and gentler on the liver than sugar, and cinnamon to stabilize blood sugar.

The nut/seed/fruit selection is a choose your own adventure situation and your chance to make this recipe your own.

For the nuts, I prefer a combination of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts

• Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) an omega-3 fatty acid that is anti-inflammatory and produces urolithin compounds in the gut, which are understood to lower the risk for certain cancers.

• Almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium and riboflavin, along with fiber and phosphorus.

• Hazelnuts are a nod to my Oregon roots and a good source of copper, magnesium, manganese, niacin and folate, along with vitamin E.

For the fruits, I keep it simple with a combination of

• Dried Cherries for their vitamin A, C, E and immune boosting properties.

• Cranberries, which are extremely high in vitamin C and promote both heart and urinary tract health.

The final touch is organic golden ground flax seed, packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and phytochemicals called lignans.

My recipe is not-too-sweet and if you’re not feeling virtuous, begs to be sprinkled on top of the Oregon-made magic that is Alden’s Organic Strawberry Ice Cream. Truly one of my favorite desserts of all time.

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