ENTERTAINING
I love homemade Christmas gifts from the kitchen . Granola is perfect to give . Candied orange peel is the star of this granola . It will keep up to 2 weeks in an airtight container making it easy to have on hand when you have guests . Top ice cream , yogurt , or fruit for a little sweet and crunch .
CRANBERRY AND ORANGE GRANOLA Makes 4 cups
2 cups old-fashioned oats 1 cup sliced almonds Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1
⁄ 2 cup pure maple syrup ( preferably Grade B )
1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted 1 teaspoon hazelnut or grapeseed oil
1
⁄ 4 cup dried cranberries
1
⁄ 4 cup golden raisins
1
⁄ 3 cup candied orange peel , sliced into long , thin strips
Preheat oven to 300 °. Spread oats on a large rimmed baking sheet . Toast , stirring occasionally , until lightly browned and fragrant , about 20 minutes . Transfer to a heatproof bowl ;
add almonds and let cool slightly . Coat same baking sheet with nonstick spray . Whisk maple syrup , butter , and hazelnut oil in a small bowl to blend . Pour syrup mixture over oats ; stir thoroughly to coat . Spread mixture on prepared sheet .
Bake granola , stirring occasionally , until the oats are light golden , about 15 minutes . Stir in the cranberries and raisins ; bake for 10 minutes longer . Remove granola from oven and let cool slightly . Stir in the orange peel . Let cool completely , then break into pieces .
PLAN AHEAD ! Store airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks . n
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2013 33