Because we live in New York City where great farmers’ markets abound, we can walk a few blocks to do the bulk of our produce, dairy, fish, and meat shopping. Tribecans can pick up seasonal ingredients from March till at least October, sometimes well into November, at the bi-weekly market.
With extravagant gasoline prices, there’s an ever growing need to buy things a little closer to home even if you’re not living in an urban area. Now is the time to start teaching our children, and ourselves, how to shop, cook, and eat things that come from local farmers and artisans.
This granola recipe is an ease-in and an ode to two local kid-pleasing ingredients: apple cider and honey. The greatest thing about making granola with kids how much you can let them do. Since you don’t have to be super vigilant about the proportions of the dry ingredients, let them play a bit. It’s nice not to have to be too precise all the time, isn’t it?
Apple Ginger Granola
*6 c. or about 14 handfuls of rolled oats
*1/2 c. or 3-4 handfuls of wheat germ
*1/2 c. or 3-4 handfuls of of flax seed
*1/2 c or 3-4 handfuls of raw pumpkin seeds
*1/4 c. or 2 handfuls of raw sesame seeds
*1 1/2 c. apple cider
*1/2 c. honey
*1/3 c. veggie oil
*one quarter-sized knob of ginger, freshly grated
*a pinch of salt
*1 t. ground cinnamon
*1/2 t. ground nutmeg
***dried fruits and nuts, to taste
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Let your child throw all of the dry ingredients into a large roasting pan and mix and swirl them together.
Now for the grown-ups bit: On the stovetop in a small saucepan, bring the cider to a boil over med-high heat. Once it has reduced to about half, stir in the grated ginger and stir for a minute. Take the pan off of the heat. Whisk in the honey, spices, salt and oil and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
Pour the warm honey-cider mixture into the roasting pan. It’s time to let your child mix with his hands till all of the dry ingredients are coated evenly.
Put the roasting pan in the oven, and cook, stirring every 10 minutes or so, for about 40 minutes. Your granola should be golden when it’s ready. After the granola has cooled, toss in the nuts and the dried fruit. Eat!
