LIFE
MARCH 1, 2012 • BCR RECORDER • B3
Maple syrup spices up chunky granola mix
It’s maple syrup time! When our boys were little we drilled a hole in one of our sugar maples, put a homemade spile in it, and hung a bucket to gather what we knew would be gallons of sap. Well, something wasn’t right with our process Rita and we got Heikenfeld just dribRITA’S KITCHEN bles. After that experience, I decided the grocery was my best source for pure maple syrup. Since I have so many reader requests, I’m using column space for those instead of several recipes.
Rita’s Can’t-Quit-Eating Chunky Maple Granola
granola, adding dry milk, extra honey, you name it, without success. Leave it to Cook’s Illustrated to develop a technique that works. Here’s my adaptation. Don’t get timid about adding flax and chia seeds. They’re optional, but huge sources of Omega 3, the chia in particular, and are really tasty. It’s easy to eat, being chunky and all, thus the name. I’m going to try this technique with my other granola recipes. Check out my blog at Cincinnati.com for step-by-step photos. Coating:
⁄3 cup pure maple syrup (I used Kroger Private Selection) 1 ⁄3 to ½ cup packed dark brown sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract ¼ cup soybean or canola oil ¼ cup olive oil 1
Granola: Mix together
For years I’ve been trying to make chunky
5 cups old-fashioned rolled
oats 2 tablespoons flax seeds (optional) ¼ cup chia seeds (optional) 2 cups sliced or slivered almonds
Add after baking: 2 cups dried cherries (optional)
Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 325. Whisk syrup, sugar, salt and extracts together, then whisk in oils. Pour over oat mixture and mix. Pour onto cookie sheet with sides in thin, even layer and press mixture down until very compact. That’s the key to chunky granola. Bake 35-40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Remove and cool to room temperature. Break into desired chunks. Stir in fruit. Tips: Use favorite nuts and fruit, or no fruit. Use light brown sugar, and all canola or soybean
oil. Omit almond extract and increase vanilla to 4 teaspoons.
Coming soon
Heritage restaurant’s signature dressing Cream horns, hopefully like Busken’s Naturally colored Easter eggs
Can you help?
Le Boxx Café’s chicken chili for Thelma and several other readers who can’t get enough of this spicy chili. I stopped and talked with Dave Armstrong, proprietor, who couldn’t share the recipe. His chef, Franklin, makes 10 gallons about every other day. It’s that popular. “Lots of chicken breast, canned black-eyed peas, chili powder, chicken base, heavy cream, celery, onions, yellow and red bell peppers, and jalapeños,” he said. His roux is butter and flour, and olive oil. Have a similar recipe?
Please share. Check out the chili – see how thick it is. I can attest to its “yummy factor.” I’m now addicted, too. Their Caribbean chicken is a close second. Like O’Charley’s broccoli cheese casserole for Sharon. Like Subway cookies. Easy punch recipes for Charlene, who made my punch recipe with ginger ale and iced tea. “Everyone loved it.” She needs easy ones like this for a women’s club. Cinnamon coffecake like Thriftway grocery for Rose of Cold Springs. “Also roll recipes with coconut or peanuts and icing.” Substitution for almond or rice milk in baking for Carol, who is lactose intolerant. “These milks don’t work well,” she said. Like Mount Washington Bakery & Creamy Whip cinnamon squares. I get requests for items from this iconic bakery all
the time. The squares have been topping the list. For a reader who thought this bakery closed. The reader said: “I’ve tried Graeter’s and other bakeries, but they just don’t taste the same.” I spoke with Nick Ganim, owner, and he assured me they are still operating but closed until April (it's a combo bakery and creamy whip) and when he re-opens in April the cinnamon squares, along with all cookies, etc., will be available. Call ahead to set some aside. Nick uses yeasted Danish dough for cinnamon squares, so if you have a similar recipe, please share. Otherwise, you can always enjoy them at this Mount Washington treasure. Rita Nader Heikenfeld is an herbalist, educator and author. Email her at columns@communitypress.com with “Rita’s kitchen” in the subject line. Call 513-2487130, ext. 356.
Grayson honored with Civic Leadership Award Community Recorder Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson will receive the Kids Voting Northern Kentucky’s highest honor, its Civic Leadership Award during an April 17 luncheon at the Radisson Hotel in Covington. The Kids Voting Northern Kentucky Civic Leadership Award is presented to a citizen of Boone, Campbell or Kenton counties for exemplary leadership in the public arena. A former Northern Kentucky resident, Trey Grayson is now the director of the Harvard Insti-
tute of Politics for his alma mater. The event will celebrate his service to the Northern KenGrayson tucky community through civic leadership and philanthropy. The event is a fundraiser for Kids Voting Northern Kentucky, a nonprofit,
non-partisan organization that exists to teach young people the importance of, and help them develop the habit of, voting. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the purchase of civics education supplies for the classroom and to conduct the Kids Voting mockpresidential election in November. The reception will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon .
Individual ticket price is $25. Sponsorships are available starting at $250. To make reservations, contact LARaterman@aol.com , sign up on the Norhtern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s events page at www.nkychamber.com, or mail a check by April 13 to Kids Voting Northern Kentucky, c/o LARaterman Associates, 1615 Park Road, Fort Wright, KY 41011.
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