Quinoa & Oatmeal Granola

I really love granola. One reason is that there is so much you can do with it! I really like buying it in bulk bins so that I can try a little of several kinds. When we lived closer to a Whole Foods I really liked getting them there. Now we are only 20 minutes away but I still don't get over there much and it's just as easy to make my own most of the time. Then, I can add what I want to anyway :)

I had some quinoa that I couldn't decide what to do with and this seemed like a great idea. (I wasn't wrong, it was a great idea) :). I was working with what I had so you could get a lot crazier with it. I didn't have any nuts for example. The quinoa does add a crunch though so you may not even know there are no nuts unless you look at it. You could always throw in some almonds or pecan pieces with the oatmeal mixture before baking and that would be lovely. I used Inca red quinoa because that's what I had. I previously used it to make "burgers" so they would be red. You could probably use most types of quinoa though.

Another idea is banana chips, cranberries, or blueberries. It would be best though to use fresh fruit in with the granola or in a parfait because it's better for you than dried because that usually has so much sugar added to it. I also usually add flax seeds (ground) to my granola but I forgot this time. I will next time though. It adds Omega-3 to it which is great for you. I used plain yogurt for my parfaits because that's what I usually eat anyway. I like to buy it in the 32 ounce containers and mix in whatever I want to (like granola). I hope you enjoy the recipe!

Quinoa & Oatmeal Granola

Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- ¼ cup quinoa
- 1 cup oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Rinse quinoa well and let dry for a few minutes. Over medium heat add canola oil to a pan then add quinoa. Stir occasionally until it starts to “pop” open then stir frequently to prevent burning until most of the quinoa is popped open. Remove from heat. 

 
3. In a medium bowl mix together oatmeal, cinnamon, agave nectar, honey, and vanilla extract. Spread on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake about 15 minutes, stirring twice during that time.
4. Remove pan from oven and cool slightly. Mix the quinoa, oatmeal mixture, and raisins together in the bowl. Serve with yogurt and fruit if desired. 

Printable recipe


Recipe adapted from Zester Daily 

This recipe may be linked up to:

· Inside BruCrew Life - Trick or Treat Tuesday's

· Crazy For Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday’s
· Alli 'n Sons - Sweet Tooth Friday

· Mrs. Fox's Sweets - Mrs. Fox's Sweet Party 

· Sweet as Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday 
· Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesday's

· A Pinch of Joy - Busy Monday Link Party 

· House of Hepworth's - Hookin up with HoH 

· Cups by Kim - Sweet & Simple Sunday  

· Couponing & Cooking - Mealtime Monday 

· What's Cooking, Love? - Showcase Your Talent Thursday 

· Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo - Anything Goes Linky

· Dwell on Joy - Dwell on Friday 

· Six Sister's Stuff - Strut Your Stuff Saturday

· Something Swanky: Desserts & Designs - Sweet Treats Thursday 

· A Slice of Southern - Southern Sundays 

· Me and My Sweets - My Sweet Party