Saturday, June 03, 2006

Homemade Muesli: Spectacularly Nutritious, Very Good ... and Even Cheap

This is my favorite summer breakfast. I don't actually measure it myself, but I give the measurements here for the first time you make it - then you'll have the idea, and won't need to measure again. This is good, and spectacularly nutritious.

Home-made Muesli

In a large bowl, mix the following:

* 6 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup toasted wheat germ
* 1 cup sunflower seeds
* 2 cups raisins

Optional additions:

* any chopped nuts
* any chopped dried fruit

Store the muesli in glass or plastic containers, and keep it
refrigerated (because of the wheat germ, mainly). The wheat germ and sunflower seeds can be omitted if you don't have them or don't want them. I think it's better with them both, though.

For breakfast: at least 1/2 hour before you wish to eat
breakfast (and up to 12 hours before), mix the following
ingredients. These are one-serving amounts - and again, I
don't measure. You won't need to measure it after your
first time.

* 1/2 cup of the muesli mix
* about 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
* one or more fresh fruits - sliced banana, shredded apple,
any berries, chopped peaches, chopped plums - whatever you
can find in the line of fresh fruit (except I don't think
citrus fruit would go well here). Banana and apple are my
'staples' for this, I almost always have at least one of
them on hand. Applesauce is also good in muesli, by itself, or combined with a fresh fruit.


Optional addition:

* freshly ground flax seed

Refrigerate it for at least 1/2 hour to allow the oats to
soften and the flavors to blend. Enjoy!

Alternatively, you can treat it like any cold cereal: put the muesli in a bowl, slice a banana over it, add milk, and eat.