No. 1 : Quick Recipe
Ginger Spiced Granola
- 3 Cups Regular Oats
- ¼ Cup Millet (Optional)
- ¼ Cup Sesame Seeds
- ¼ Cup Chopped Walnuts
- ¼ Cup Chopped Almonds
- 1 ½ Tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ Tsp EACH Mace and Cardamom
- ¼ Cup Maple Syrup
- ¼ Cup Orange Juice
- Zest of 1 Orange
- ½ – 1 Cup Your Choice of Chopped Dried Fruit
- 2 TB Finely Chopped Crystallized Ginger
Step One
Preheat the oven to 300F. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients except dried fruit and ginger. Drizzle in the maple syrup and stir well. Add orange juice and zest, stirring so all ingredients are coated.
Step Two
Spread the mix out onto a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, (don’t crowd the mix, you may need 2 sheets), and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring and checking about every 10 minutes so nothing burns.
Step Three
Remove from the oven, add the dried fruit and cool completely – if its still tacky it will be soggy when you store it. Store in an airtight container.
No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop
Mace and Cardamom are two spices we don’t use often in the U.S. Mace is the orange-colored outside covering of the nutmeg, (use nutmeg if you don’t have mace on hand), and Cardamom is the resinous, strongly aromatic seed used in India, Asia and the Netherlands. Both are full of warm, spicy flavor that tastes great with ginger!
No. 3 : Clever Idea
The sweet and spicy flavor of crystallized ginger adds an unusual kick to this granola. Crystallized or Candied Fruits have been made since the 14th century all over the world. If you have any left over from the recipe, try 1/2 teaspoon in a cup of hot tea for a delicious, warm beverage that tastes like the holiday season.
No. 4 : Wine FIND of the Week
Graham Beck BLISS Demi Sec
Western Cape South Africa
About $19.00
Whether you’re serving this granola as a topper for yogurt or ice cream, enjoying it in a bowl of milk, or eating it out of the jar, this sparkler is sure to be a good pair. The words “Demi Sec” mean that the wine is slightly sweeter and rounder, (meaning fuller in your mouth) then the typical sparkling wine, it will make the zingy ginger shine.