Quest for a Great Granola
Why does a business that makes jam from a single tree offer granola? Because it is soooo good! The first time I sold at the Tallahassee Downtown Market, I was chatting with a customer about my jams. He surveyed my table and asked, “What else have you got?” As I considered this question, my mind went to the granolas I had been experimenting with at home. I had been on a quest to develop a granola with simple, healthy ingredients that tasted really good.
After some online research and trial and error, I landed on a recipe for a Maple/Pecan granola. Raw pecans and pure, organic maple syrup pair fantastically. I chose raw organic pumpkin seeds for their color, texture, and flavor. I experimented with different oils and found that good old vegetable oil provided the best flavor. I added sea salt, but far less than other recipes call for. And some cinnamon. The finishing touch was some pure vanilla extract; not too much, but just enough to complement the other flavors. I experimented with cooking temperatures and durations until I got it exactly right. And what about fruit? Tastes vary, but organic raisins are tried and true, and they add just the right amount of fruitiness. The result? A simple, healthy granola that is to die for.
My next flavor was inspired by my love of baklava. Who doesn’t love walnuts mixed with honey? I used raw walnuts and wildflower honey, but the honey made the granola far too sticky. I mitigated that with a mix of honey and organic brown sugar. Should I use a different kind of seeds? After some experimentation, I wound up back with organic pumpkin seeds. Same oil, sea salt, and pure vanilla (and organic raisins, of course). And BAM! An incredible granola that’s simple and healthy, with a honey-nutty taste that will make you want to eat the entire bag. Which I have seen people do.
My third flavor required a little more creativity. What kind of nuts should I use, and what flavor should I pair them with? After some experimenting I had it: Cranberries paired with almonds! And for seeds? Once again, raw organic pumpkin seeds were perfect for their color, texture, and flavor. This time I used a small amount of pure almond extract instead of vanilla and sweetened it with wildflower homey and organic brown sugar. Instead of raisins, I used sweetened dried cranberries. The resulting Cranberry/Almond granola was incredible. The winner of the free giveaway on Instagram and Facebook selected a bag of my Cranberry/Almond granola as her prize. She liked it so well she ordered 4 more bags and 2 jars of jam! Yes, it’s that good. You can read her review at the Single Tree Products website.
As it turns out, I now sell as much granola as I do jam. My quest for a simple, delicious granola has been wildly successful. Check out my three delicious varieties of granola here.
In Other News…
- The March 9 Tallahassee Downtown Market was cancelled due to the weather. I will be in Crawfordville at a farmers market in the parking lot of Tractor Supply on March 16, and back at the Tallahassee Downtown Market on March 23. Visit my tent!
- My new little peach tree has a million blossoms. I hope to be offering peach jam around May or June.
- The website has been updated so that you can now upload pictures and videos to product reviews.
- Granola is now packaged in a bigger bag. Bigger bag, more granola (12 ounces instead of 11), same price!
- You can expect to see pear jam back in stock around July.
Do you know anyone with a fruit tree that is producing more fruit than the owner wants? Please send them my way.
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