Healthy Recipes Using Granola, Oats, Couscous and Other Grains

Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup flour

2 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

A few dashes of salt

'¼ cup water

1 egg

2 tablespoon maple syrup

2 tablespoon butter

Oil for frying

Combine the oats and buttermilk and mix well. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix the water, egg, maple syrup and butter and then add to flour mixture. Mix all of it until blended well. Heat oil in skillet and pour '½ cup batter until brown. Turn and fry until brown and serve.

Granola Dessert Mix

4 cups rolled oats

1 cup dried raisins

'½ cup sliced almonds

'½ cup sesame seeds

'½ cup dried coconut

1/3 cup wheat germ

'½ teaspoon salt

'¼ cup vegetable oil

'¼ cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and mix, first 7 ingredients. In separate bowl mix oil, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Put first mixture on flat baking dish and pour second mixture over it. Spread and cook 15 minutes.

Couscous Salad

2 cups hot chicken broth

1 cup couscous

6 tablespoon olive oil

'½ cup lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 large tomato

'½ cup feta cheese

1/3 cucumber, sliced

Pour broth over couscous. Stir and cover about 10 minutes. Mix together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Then add tomatoes and feta cheese. Add to couscous and mix well. Just before serving, top with sliced cucumber.

Vermicelli Pilaf

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 red bell pepper

'½ cup shallots

3 oz vermicelli

1 cup bulgar

2 cups vegetable broth

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

Salt and pepper to taste

Dash or two of parsley

Add peppers and shallots to heated oil in skillet. When softened add vermicelli in pieces and sauté about 3 minutes. Add bulgar and stir one more moinute. Add broth, tarragon, salt and pepper. Bring to boil and simmer 15 minutes. Put on plate and sprinkle with parsley.

Grain Hush Puppies

Vegetable oil

'½ cup whole wheat flour

'½ cup cornmeal

'½ cup rolled oats

1 scallion

3 teaspoons baking powder

Salt to taste

'½ cup milk

1 egg

3 drops Tabasco sauce

Combine flour cornmeal, rolled oats, chopped scallions, baking powder and salt in bowl. Stir in egg, milk and Tabasco sauce. Mix well. Heat oil in skillet. Drop teaspoon mixture in oil one at a time and fry until brown. Drain on paper towel and serve.

Granola Squares

1 stick butter

'¾ cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup granola

'¾ cup flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Salt to taste

6 oz chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease baking dish. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in granola, flours, baking powder ands alt and mix well. Mix in chocolate chips. Put in baking dish.
Bake about 20 minutes and let cool for one half hour.

Couscous Pudding

'½ cup couscous

1 cup skim milk

2 tablespoon sugar

'½ cup raisins

8 oz low fat vanilla yogurt

Heat milk. Combine milk with couscous, sugar and raisins. Set aside for 20 minutes to let it harden.

Stir in yogurt. Refrigerate one hour and serve.

Oat Muffins

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup raisins

In a large bowl, combine oats and buttermilk and let stand 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and butter twelve 1/2-cup muffin tins.

Add egg, sugar and butter to oat mixture, stirring until just combined.

Into another large bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and add to oat mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in raisins.

Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin tins. Bake muffins in middle of oven until golden. About 20 minutes.