It is a BEAUTIFUL spring day here in northern Idaho today.  The air smells good, the sun is shining and the house has the aroma of wonderful things being made.

One of the best part of my lifestyle is the “Simple Pleasure” I receive from my “Labors of Love”.   I tend to go after the hearts of the men in my life (Hubby and Son) by means of their stomachs!!  I love making desserts, meals, snacks and candies that tantalize first their sense of smell upon entering the house and then their taste buds .  I enjoy spending time in the kitchen and making new recipes and dishes.

Today's recipe is for a very healthy and sustainable snack or breakfast.  It is great for a wilderness hike and a great way to start the day.

I wanted to also share a little tidbit of information for those of you that may be gluten sensitive or may be using the gluten free and casein free diet for a loved one with autism or aspergers.  I will be using rolled oats today in the recipe and not everyone realizes that if you are on a gluten free diet you can't just go out to the store and pick up Quaker Rolled Oats or other brand off the shelf.  Although oats themselves are a gluten free ingredient, when rolled oats are packaged they are taken down a conveyor that has wheat flour therefore tainting them.

I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Rolled Oats and I purchase everything we purchase in bulk which saves you lots of money in the end.  Bob's Red Mill sells in bulk quantities of 25 lb bags and often if you have a local store that purchases their items they can also order in a bulk bag for you eliminating the shipping cost from their website.  Also if you call Bob's Red Mill to place your order over the phone your shipping charges will be considerably less because of the shipping calculator on their website.

Purchasing in bulk is a great way to shop.  I am not a shopper and avoid stores other than antique stores and thrift stores at all costs.  Our grocery shopping is done once every three months only if necessary!  🙂  I also stock up in August or September so that no shopping is necessary until February or March of the following year because of our location and the good possibilities that we will be stuck back in our little haven for a while!! YAY!!  Being able to stock up on your raw ingredients allows you to save a lot of money in the long run and enjoy the comforts of your home without have to waste time running around or the fuel.

Mountain Woman Journals ~ Mountain Woman Maple Nut Granola

Mountain Woman Maple Nut Granola
Recipe Type: Breakfast, Snack
Author: Tammy Trayer ~ www.TrayerWilderness.com
Makes roughly 10 cups
Ingredients
  • 5 cups Rolled Oats
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup each of sliced almonds and chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup each unsalted pepitas and sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup, water and grapeseed or coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup cranberries or blueberries, raisins and apricots to add after the bake time (see below)
Instructions
  1. Combine above dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Combine a maple syrup, water and oil in a medium bowl and pour over the oat mixture.
  3. Stir until well combined.
  4. Spread mixture into a large 12 x 15 roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet.
  5. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes and remove from the oven, stir well and return to the oven.
  7. Continue baking until golden brown and beginning to crisp. Typically about another 45 minutes. After removing from the oven, stir in 1/2 cup of each dried cranberries, raisins and sliced apricots. Let cool completely before storing.
Enjoy….
Did you try this recipe??  What did you think??