Another snow day! Cecily, Finn and I are stuck inside. School is cancelled and the roads are super icy. Looks like my relaxing morning at the mall has to put off until Thursday.Since baking cookies is out of the question, I decided to make some homemade granola. Granola is one of my favorite snacks, but it is always so high in fat. I adapted a recipe I found on weight watchers website, adding some chocolate chips for my sweet tooth and some protein powder to make this an even healthier snack.
I bagged it up in small zip locks, 1/2 cup per portion, so I can easily grab it on the go.
Low Fat Granola
Adapted from Weightwatchers.com
4 points plus per 1/2 cup serving
Ingredients:
4 cup uncooked quick oats
1 cup steel cut oats
2 scoops protein powder (I used banana flavored)
6 Tbsp honey
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup apple juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix uncooked quick oats, steel cut oats and protein powder together and spread on a non-stick baking sheet with sides; bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Meanwhile, mix honey, oil, apple juice, spices and vanilla together in a cup. When oats are done, spoon into a large bowl; set pan aside. Add almonds to oat mixture and stir to combine. Pour honey-spice mixture over oat mixture and mix thoroughly to distribute and coat completely; spread mixture back over pan.
Return pan to oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, stirring every few minutes. Remove from oven and spoon back into bowl. (Note: Be careful that granola doesn't burn)
Stir chocolate chips and cranberries into mixture; let cool. Store in an airtight container. Yields about a half cup per serving.
I bagged it up in small zip locks, 1/2 cup per portion, so I can easily grab it on the go.
Low Fat Granola
Adapted from Weightwatchers.com
4 points plus per 1/2 cup serving
Ingredients:
4 cup uncooked quick oats
1 cup steel cut oats
2 scoops protein powder (I used banana flavored)
6 Tbsp honey
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup apple juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix uncooked quick oats, steel cut oats and protein powder together and spread on a non-stick baking sheet with sides; bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Meanwhile, mix honey, oil, apple juice, spices and vanilla together in a cup. When oats are done, spoon into a large bowl; set pan aside. Add almonds to oat mixture and stir to combine. Pour honey-spice mixture over oat mixture and mix thoroughly to distribute and coat completely; spread mixture back over pan.
Return pan to oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, stirring every few minutes. Remove from oven and spoon back into bowl. (Note: Be careful that granola doesn't burn)
Stir chocolate chips and cranberries into mixture; let cool. Store in an airtight container. Yields about a half cup per serving.
Did you have better success with the steel cut oats than I did? I'll have to try it your way, since it uses quick oats! All the recipes I found said NO quick oats.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quick oats and steel cut oats combo. The recipe actually called for quick oats and puffed rice cereal, but I didnt have that on hand.
ReplyDeleteI liked the consistancy a lot. The steel cut oats gave it an extra crunch! I do wish it stuck together a little more, but Id have to add a lot more honey and oil I guess.