Conscious Food Choices

Ginger-Goji Super Granola and Friends…

I am not crazy about the flavor of goji berries, but am a strong believer in their superpowers, so this is a way to spice them up by dry blending them with a bit of crystallized ginger. (Yes, the sugary one…but a little goes a long way).

Ginger-Goji Super Granola (Raw-ish)

• 1/2 recipe of Vanilla Almond Granola Base 
• 3 c flaked or shredded dried coconut (combo is nice)
• 2 c walnuts and/or pecans (soaked and dried)
• 1 c organic goji berries,  dry blended until roughly powdered
• 2 T finely chopped crystallized ginger pieces
• 1 T freshly grated ginger
• 1 c dried mulberries, (or ¼ c dates, raisins or other dried fruit) coarsely chopped or lightly dry blended
• 2 T liquid coconut oil
• 1/4 t coarsely ground sea salt
• 2 T maple syrup
• 1 t cinnamon (optional)
• Vanilla maple glaze made with: 1 T vanilla plus 1/4 c maple syrup

Dry blend crystallized ginger, fresh ginger and goji berries in Vitamix until most of the goji berries have powdered and are reclumping into gingery bits. The odd whole berry is fine here too.

Combine coconut, chopped nuts, gingered goji berries and other fruit in very large bowl. Add liquid coconut oil and toss to coat.

Add 2 T. maple syrup, salt and cinnamon or other spices and flavorings, toss lightly to coat.

Finally, add Vanilla Hemp Granola Base over nut mixture. Toss lightly, drizzling with remaining maple-vanilla mixture so everything is lightly coated. Make sure not to overmix at this point – there should be distinctive lumps of the oat-y base, alongside the coconut-nut mixture, all lightly glazed with the maple vanilla mix… (Mmmmm)

Spread onto 3 or 4 Perflexx sheets. Dehydrate 8 -12 hours or overnight, turning once to crisp up the undersides.

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Flavor Variations (are endless… these are just ideas)

Maple Pecan Granola

• Use all pecans instead of walnuts
• Use gingered gogi berries, or not…
• Use only the finely shredded coconut, not flakes
• Increase cinnamon to 2 T
• Add 1/2 t freshly grated nutmeg

Blueberry Almond Granola

• Use 2 cups chopped raw almonds (soaked, dried and truly raw)
• Use only flaked coconut
• Leave ginger out but dry blend the gogi berries to a fine powder to dissapear them
• Use 1 c sundried blueberries as the dried fruit,  and do not chop or blend.
• Replace cinnamon with 1/2 t fresh lemon juice and zest
• Add 1/2 t almond extract to and 1 t lemon juice to vanilla maple glaze

Rainforest Crunch:

Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium, a necessary trace mineral not easily found in many foods. This is a good way to eat a little bit each day.

• Use 1 c walnuts, plus 1/2 c brazil nuts, soaked overnight, thinly sliced and dried
• Add 1/2 cup finely chopped raw cashews, (unsoaked is fine).
• Use chopped dried figs, pineapple and/or mango for the fruit.

Pumpkin Spice:
Pumpkin seeds are another great nutritional powerhouse. Extremely high in minerals, especially magnesium, plus a wide range of B Vitamins, and Zinc, they also contain L-Tryptophan which among other things, makes you feel good. Along with walnuts, they are also listed as one of the better sources for omega 3 fatty acids.

• Add 1/2 t nutmeg, 1/4 t dried ginger and a pinch of cloves, or 3/4 t pumpkin spice mix to gogi berries and dry blend.
• Add 1 cup soaked and dried pumpkin seeds to the blender just at the end, to coat them in flavor
• Add 2 t cinnamon and a dash more nutmeg or spice blend to the vanilla maple glaze at the end

June 18, 2011 - Posted by Jorin Hawley | Breakfast, Food Consciousness, Raw Food Recipes, Recipes, Sugar Free/Unrefined Recipes, Vegan Recipes | breakfast recipe, ginger-goji granola, goji berries, Raw Food Recipes, raw granola recipe, raw recipe, superfoods