Snacks

Chunky Granola

8 cups rolled oats
1 cup nuts (more if desired, up to double this amount)
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup whole millet or whole buckwheat groats
3 cups whole wheat flour or part corn meal, rice flour, or other whole-grain flour
1 tsp. salt (or more, as desired)
½ cup honey (or more, up to double this amount)
1 cup hot water, or up to 2 cups hot water
(more water makes the granola chunkier, less makes it crumbly)
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl or pot, combine oats, nuts, seeds, millet, flour, and salt. Mix together honey, water, and vanilla, and stir into dry ingredients. Spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet and squeeze mixture together to form small chunks. Don't crowd--the chunks need to bake clear through. Roast until golden brown, about 10 to 20 minutes. (With the larger amount of water, reduce heat and bake longer.) As it bakes, the granola may need stirring to brown evenly. Cool thoroughly before storing.

Variations: Replace part of the water with the freshly squeezed juice of 2 oranges (and add the grated rinds if the oranges were not sprayed with pesticides), or use 2 teaspoons orange oil.

For "gingerbread" granola, use half molasses (for half honey) and add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger and ¼ teaspoon cloves. For a nice change, substitute maple syrup for honey.

Key words: vegan, breakfast dishes

Kids Fruit Party Mix

Red and green apples
Chopped, unsalted nuts
Raisins
Dried fruit pieces
Toothpicks

Cut apples into wedges (cut away core). Place toothpick in one end of each piece of fruit. Place condiments in small bowls for children to roll their fruit pieces in. Kids love to do this. Apples can be substituted with (or joined by) kiwi fruit, strawberries, blackberries, melon pieces, pineapple, etc.

Key Words: raw foods, vegan

PARTY MIX

2 cups Cheerios
3 cups Rice Chex
2 cups bite-size shredded wheat
1 cup peanuts, pecans, or cashews
1 cup thin pretzel sticks (optional)
½ cup butter or margarine, melted
4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Dash Tabasco sauce
½ tsp. seasoned salt
½ tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. onion salt

Combine cereals, nuts and pretzels in crock pot. Mix melted butter with remaining ingredients; pour over cereal mixture in crock pot and toss lightly to coat. Do not cover crock pot. Cook on high setting for 2 hours, stirring well every 30 minutes; then turn to low setting for 2 to 6 hours. Store in airtight container. Makes 10 cups

Key words: vegan, crock pot, party foods
From Rival Crock-Pot Cooking