Core GRANOLA

[WWCarol]

I just found this on the WW website. I'll be trying it soon. Plus, I think you could put this in the Summer Muesli recipe, too~

CORE GRANOLA:

Quick oats
Steel-cut oats
(Any other Core grains of choice)
Spray butter
Cinammon
Nutmeg
(Any other spices of choice)
SF Maple syrup/or Splenda/or DV SF Caramel syrup would work well~

Put grains on cookie sheet. Spray with Core butter spray. Sprinkle with spices. Drizzle with syrup. Toast (and shake pan occasionally) in your oven a few minutes~

Let me know if you try this, and what you think, Buddies~ :) I don't have steel-cut oats, so I'll be trying it with rolled oats and quick oats~

[bookwoman]

Thanks, this sounds like a good recipe. I bet this would be good in a pudding parfait. You could use fruit, granola and the sf pudding of your choice and make a yummy dessert. Can't wait to try this one. :)

[oystergirl]

thanks for a great idea! by the way...what is the core butter spray? please let me know....

[WWCarol]

Well, I use Smart Balance, which has soybean oil.

I imagine any butter spray would work if you use 0-points-worth.

In the Getting Started Booklet is says: FF margarine, and Nonstick cooking or baking spray is Core.

I don't know about butter sprays...Anyone else know?

[jillwbee]

It's weird because the only one mentioned in the Core food lists is the Parkay margarine spray. I have looked at that one with all the others (ICBINB, Olivio, Smart Balance) and they seem to be pretty much the same thing. Why only mention Parkay?

Anyway, this recipe sounds good!

[Dianamija]

This sounds good, but what is SF and DV? Sugar Free and what?

</SPAN>
(SF</SPAN> Maple syrup/or Splenda/or DV SF</SPAN> Caramel syrup)

[jillwbee]

This sounds good, but what is SF and DV? Sugar Free and what?

</SPAN>
(SF</SPAN> Maple syrup/or Splenda/or DV SF</SPAN> Caramel syrup)Yup, SF is sugar free and DV is Da Vinci Syrups (http://www.davincigourmet.com/page.php?page=742&s=0&&category=2).

[WWCarol]

Why only mention Parkay?

If you're talking about the Complete Food Companion, I read that the companies/products mentioned PAID to be included!

So, to me, if you see something that is identical (with a different brand-name) consider it Core. They obviously couldn't list every brand in the CFC! :bcbsalute

[jamiebrandonsmom]

I have made granola by mixing SF Di Vinci syrup and rolled oats. It is wonderful. I have never tried it with the spray butter and spices. I will have to give it a try.

[jillwbee]

I checked on the Core food list on WW Online and it is the same as the CFC. I figured there must be some payola going on here. ;)

I agree that they are the same and we should be able to use our preference (or what is on sale!).

[sodacracker]

If anyone makes this let us know if you find that is a trigger food. I know regular granola is a red light food, for me but I think this recipe with its steel cut oats will be harder to chew and maybe that also cuts down on the quantity you can eat at one sitting.

[lorac55ca]

This might be a great topping for a CORE Fruit & Yogurt Parfait similar to the ones from McDonalds!!

[jillwbee]

I know that oat bran isn't core anymore and I was also wondering why wheat bran isn't core? It is really low calorie and I have some of it from doing low carb. It comes out to zero points unless you use a ton of it so I might use it in this as well. I was also using oat fiber in cooking which just gives a smooth flavor to hot cereals, etc. Probably not good in this since it is powdery.

[oystergirl]

i honestly think some things arent core cause they cant and dont review EVERY single possible food...if its no calories, or low as veggies--gives you something in your diet you need and is not a trigger food, then i say work with it if you want--i mean seriously--on flex, you have that scale you can use to figure stuff out--why not a core-worthy scale??? (lol remembering seinfeld and elaine and sponge worthy here)--and i think that if the program is working for you---and you ahve been on it for a while--working it as it is presented--then if you find somethning you want to work wiht and it still gives you results GREAT.....stressing over it only adds to the problem.

[WWCarol]

Yeah...so many of these things would be ZERO-points per serving, anyway. Wheat bran and oat fiber or bran would probably be in that category~

Sodacracker~ I made a much less "fancy" version of "granola" than this...and believe me...it won't be a trigger! ;) My granola was toasted oats that were essentially CHEWIER. Very nice. But not a trigger. :)

I put them in my Summer Muesli for added flavor. It was great. Now, today, I'll see how they taste now that they've "softened" up~

[jillwbee]

It is yummy~I just made it and put it away. I used Irish Oatmeal, Quick Oatmeal and wheat bran. I sprayed it w/butter spray and put cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice on top along with DaVinci caramel syrup.

My husband also likes it. Thanks!

[sodacracker]

I made this tonight, and you are right Carole - it definitely is not a trigger! Too chewy and very earnest tasting ( like it is saying " I am good for you!!"). I think I will sprinkle some on my summer muesli. I am trying to steer away from the Splenda sweetner so barely used the sf syrup - maybe 2 tbsp per cookie tray of granola. That is probably why it tastes so "earthy" lol :p.

I googled 'making granola' and saw a recipe that included rye flakes and other flaked grains, so that might be another way to increase the grain variety for some folks. I am going to scout around the bulk store next week and see what I find.

[bdette]

I have been looking for CORE granola forever! I will definitley have to try this one! Thank you very much!

[bookwoman]

I made some and thought it was pretty good. I used 1/2 a cup of quick oats and 1/2 a cup of regular oats, spritzed with butter spray and added cinnamon and DV hazelnut syrup. I mixed everything in a bowl then put it on a cookie sheet. I baked mine for about 5 or 6 minutes in a 350 degree oven. I used mine in a pudding parfait. I layered sf white chocolate pudding, banana and stawberries, and granola. It was very good and core!

[WWCarol]

I just found steel-cut oats in my bulk bins at Winco...Cost less than the oats! :eek: I figure I'm saving TONS of $$ compared to buying the Irish McCann's pre-packaged.

Now to experiment with making the granola...

Thanks for your variations, Bookwoman; everything helps! :D

[sodacracker]

I too noticed some Irish oatemeal at the bulk store - It was cut into slightly smaller peices than the McCann's. I am going to try another batch with large flake oats, steel cut oats, flaked rye, flaked spelt and some powdered chai tea sprinkled on top before spraying on the oil for a snappy ginger/cinnamon taste. I will let you know ......

[jillwbee]

I picked up steel-cut oats today at the store (Bob's Red Mill). Has anyone tried them in this? I may make some tonight...

[WWCarol]

I haven't yet, Jill...I keep thinking it'll be hard like "gravel" but the poster who did it said not...!

Let me know, if you do it first! :bcbsalute :buddysmoo

[DreamWalker]

Jill, I've had Bob's Steel cut oats. They were very, very good. We cook so much oatmeal around here though that price wise, we went back to good old Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. DH makes a 12 cup batch every Sunday, tops each 1c serving with 1/2c blueberries, takes it to work for breakfast, nukes it, and tops it off with some yogurt. You'll like the steel cut oats I'm sure.

[jillwbee]

The steel-cut oats were not at all like rocks in the granola. They are a great addition.

I am watching DH munching on them now so I suspect he likes them as well. ;)

[WWCarol]

Cool!.... :)

[MarilynP]

I made this yesterday and, to make a long story short, it IS a trigger food for me.:crazy: Fortunately I made a small amount, and DH liked it too! For now at least, I will have to give it a pass. Too bad! :sobbing:

Is this considered a cold cereal, and would be core only if eaten once a day, and with milk?

[sodacracker]

Hi Marilyn,

No this would not be a cold cereal because it is made with uncooked grains that are toasted and is not a processed cereal.

Too bad it is a trigger. I think it would be for me if it was made with all the sweetener that the recipe called for. Since I cannot find the Da Vinci syrups in Canada I left off the sweetener and toasted it in the oven until quite brown. That really enhanced the toasted grain flavours and found I really liked it mixed with some ff yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I made it again tonight by spreading 2 cookie sheets with large flake oats, rolled rye flakes, chopped oat groats, quick cook oats and sprayed with the oil spray and added some spices and 1 tbsp fructose per cookie sheet. Baked at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes with the occasional stir. Pretty crunchy and lots of chewing required for those grains :).