Hello, blog world! 
Let me start off by telling you that I really loved this morning’s breakfast: my very own homemade granola + Greek yogurt + banana slices! Delish! 
The homemade granola totally made the meal! I’m glad that I added so many almonds and raisins to it! 
With breakfast, I drank some iced coffee with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar.
Last night, I made a batch of homemade granola, which was so, so, so easy to make– and probably a whole lot cheaper and healthier than buying it at the grocery store.
Here’s the how-to:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350*F.
2. Combine the following ingredients (except for the raisins) in a small bowl:
- 1 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup almonds (or your favorite nut)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin (or sesame) seeds
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 3 tbsp agave nectar
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- Shake of cinnamon
3. Stir well until agave nectar and canola oil are fully mixed in. It’ll start to get a little clumpy.
4. Spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
5. Spread granola on pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, stir occasionally while cooking.
6. Remove granola from oven and mix in raisins.
7. Allow to cool before serving.
8. Store in air-tight container.
Feel Great Weight
In honor of my recent and very indulgent trip to San Francisco, I wrote about carbs this week: No Carb Left Behind!
CNC FAQs
I finally organized my FAQ page! I added some new frequently asked questions, but please let me know if I am missing any.
Question of the Day
What food(s) do you make at home instead of purchasing at the grocery store?
{ 85 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Homemade granola is the best kind fo granola.
I pretty much make mostly everything at home, except for the basics. We love to make our own protein bars.
i totally agree that homemade granola is MUCH better… i love adding extra nut & controlling the amount of sugar.
For some reason the calorie density of granola has always scared me. I know I should probably get past this and look at its nutritional value, but I have a hard time doing so. Is that a concern at all for you?
I tried to make my own bread instead of buying at the store but my roommate and boyfriend ended up eating it all in a day so that really didn’t work out
Maybe I’ll try again when they’re not around 
I love homemade granola. It is the best! We make ours too. We also make our bread, pasta, and yogurt at home. Homemade yogurt is the best. You should try it!
i try to make as much as possible at home, not only to save money, but also to cut down on packaging, energy use for procesing/transportation of stuff, and to lessen the amount of preservatives in what i eat etc. i make almost all the granola i eat, all jams and preserves, snacks (cookies, bars, etc), etc. i’m working on increasing my home bread production (usually a little easier for me in the winter. i tend to buy bread in the summer, though i don’t eat that much). i also am trying to dehydrate all my own fruits for use in granola and snacks.
I love making homemade granola! it’s so easy.
I also like making homemade desserts: muffins, brownies, cookies, etc instead of store bought. And bread/rolls when I can!
I usually make my own biscotti (although TJs has provided my biscotti fix from time to time). Desserts for holidays are ALWAYS homemade. I think your granola may have to be in my Christmas gifts this year – that sounds great!
Ohh that granola looks so good. I was just finishing up my breakfast of granola (from Mix my granola) and greek yogurt as I began to read your post. I’m def going to try to make my own granola.. must be soo much cheaper and I have a lot of ingredients on hand.
I love making granola at home…then I can add in whatever I want…and TRY to make it a bit healthier – great recipe! Also love your no carbs left behind article…so important that carbs don’t get a bad rap!!
I’ve started making bread at home!
Oh yum, that granola looks really good.I must try making it at home instead of buying because I didn’t really like the granola I bought some weeks ago!
I make granola at home too, but my favorite things that I’ve started to make at home instead of buying in the store are almond milk and vegetable stock. Oh my goodness – they are so much more flavorful than any I’ve found in a store!
I’ll have to try making my own granola one of these days. Looks delish!
I don’t make much of my own things, but I do buy bulk veggies and chop them instead of buying baby carrots, chopped celery, etc…it saves money!
making granola is one of my new fav. things to do
I try to make as much stuff at home as I can, but I haven’t done granola yet. I need to get some agave!
I LOVE making homemade granola. Alton Brown has a recipe for it on the Food Network’s website that is awesome!
I never usually buy granola because its so expensive so thanks for the recipe I will def. have to try it!
I made granola this weekend, and added some quinoa and barley in with the oats. It came out extra crunchy and delicious!
Your granola looks delicious! We always make gnocchi because it is cheap and easy to make at home
I make my own hummus. I like controlling the flavors that I put into it. I havne’t tried granola yet. Sounds good though.
Yum! I love making my own granola because I know *exactly* what’s in it and can tailor it to my likes. Yours looks yummy, too.
That granola looks awesome! I usually make my own muffins, cookies, hummus, and baked tofu rather than buying them at the store. It saves money and gives you control of what goes in it!
That granola looks soo good!!! Regarding your question I make my own meals?! heh joking I make my own baked goods and salads.
Wow, I am actually surprised that making granola is so simple! It looks so yummy that I thought it would be a more difficult process.
Hmm, foods I make home? Usually pasta sauce or pancakes.
Store bought granola really is way too expensive. Making it at home is better also because you can control what goes in it. Your combo sounds great!
When I have the time I try and make homemade bread. I have a whole wheat recipe that makes three loaves so I keep two in the freezer. So much better than store bought. I also can’t remember the last time I bought jarred pasta sauce.
Oooo the homemade granola looks great! I have a bunch of granola recipes that I’ve been meaning to adapt.
I like to make my own Larabars, marinara sauce, waffles, muffins, and almost all sweet treats.
Pancakes are better from scratch.
I always think of granola as too calorie dense to eat. Far too many for me
The homemade version always looks so delicious though.
Thanks for sharing your No Carb Left Behind story with us!
I make a lot of stuff at home, but there is one thing that has been nagging me for a long time: BREAD (speaking of carbs). PB eats SO much of it and I am constantly buying more bread. I need to learn to make it ASAP!
Mmmm love homemade granola. i enjoyed reading our faq section. but i still want to know more about how you transitioned from being an extracuricular blogger who writes about eating and enjoying food with a healthy balance into being a guest blogger on so many sites and now a future book author! i feel like your story would be very inspiring!
Things that I like to make at home are usually condiments (sauces, etc.), soups, and sweet treats. But as of late I haven’t had ANY time to cook, so I’ve been trying to buy healthy alternatives at the grocery store.
Delicious! Thanks for the recipe! I used to make homemade granola all the time, adding lots of pumpkin pie spices. It’s even great to throw in some dark chocolate chips when it’s cooled
I’ve tried my hand at homemade sushi rolls before, instead of buying them at the store. My first try didn’t work out so well, but I’m anxious to try again. I found out that the key is STICKY rice!
I try to make my own dressing, it tastes so much better!
great granola recipe! i’ll have to try that…
i make my own oatmeal, of course, but that’s a given. those little isntant packets are such a joke.
i like to make my own soups rather than buying canned.
I’m not much of a cook these days (but I’m working on it!), but there’s nothing like fresh homemade baked goods! The stuff from the store doesn’t cut it.
Oh, and from your FAQ page I saw those old pictures of you and Mal from high school — SO adorable!
I make most of my foods at home. I’ve discovered that I can eat anything I want at home, without feeling guilty, because I know exactly what I put in them.
Pesto – I have basil in my garden so I make lots of pesto. I even freeze extra so we can enjoy it in the winter.
@Karla:I’m conscious of calories, but no food really scares me.
That looks very similar to my granola recipe. I haven’t posted it on my site yet, but I will at some point.
For your question… When I go to the grocery, I pretty much try to stick to only the perimeter of the store. So, I will buy fresh produce, meats, and dairy. I try to avoid most things in the center isles, because they are all processed foods that I can generally make myself in a much healthier and cheaper fashion. Just like your homemade granola!
i’ve seen so many people make homemade granola and i totally think thats a great idea!
I make homemade granola too. It’s so yummy! I would love to make my own bread one day but I don’t have the time now. Wish I did!
I make my own ice cream!
I love ice cream and eat it all the time, but I was sick of trying to find all-natural versions at the store that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. So, I purchased an ice cream machine (the brand is Cuisinart, and I love it) and I’ve been whipping up my own batches ever since. It’s so easy.
Yum. Do you have nutritional facts?
I’ve made my own granola too and I love it! It’s so much fun to play with flavors when it’s your own
I once made them simply with oats, raisins and brown sugar,they taste so crunchy!
Like your version too, so much stuff in it and not as sweet as of commercial boxes.
@Rose: No, sorry.
If anyone figures it out, please let us know!
I love making homemade granola! It definitely is better! Try it with molasses next time:)
I tend to make my own cookies instead of buying the processed kind. I also am a big fan of making my own pesto. The jar just can’t beat my own!
ive tried to make hummus a bunch of times but it never tastes as good as sabra. so now i buy it in a big tub from costco… so much cheaper!
I make sodium-free soy sauce, sodium-free worcestershire sauce, taco seasoning mix, dry onion soup mix, sweetened condensed milk, polishing cleanser for the sink (that’s great), creamed soup substitute…
I once made homemade fabric softener, homemade vegetable wash.
Next Comments →