Pumpkin seeds – Canada's Source for Organic Vegan Health Products

Recipe Week! Grain Free Maple Caramel Granola

Note: Soak the almonds for 12-48 hours, and the pumpkin and sunflower seeds 4-6 hours, then drain and rinse.Then dehydrate for a few hours until nice and dry.. The sunflower and pumpkin seeds will take a shorter time to dry in the dehydrator then the almonds.

Add in the following order:

1 cup soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds (measured after soaking and dehydrating)

1 1/4 cups soaked and dehydrated sunflower seeds (measured after soaking and dehydrating)

2 cups soaked and dehydrated almonds (measured after soaking and dehydrating) After dehydrating I placed the almonds in a zip log bag and then smashed them up with a hammer. I then poured them out of the plastic bag and into the mixture. This was done to pulverize them so the mixture would be less chunky and be better incorporated. Why you see a little red in the photo below is because I was dehydrating some cranberries on the upper shelf while the almonds were just below them, so I little of the juice dropped on them.. Don’t worry if you end up with a few larger pieces..

Then add the following in one by one

1/2 cup Desiccated Coconut Shreds
1/3 cup flame raisins
1/3 cup Goji Berries
2 teaspoons vanilla powder
1/4 teaspoon Maine Coast Sea Salt with Sea Veg
1 Tablespoon Ceylon Cinnamon
1/2 Tablespoon Mesquite Powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons Lucuma Powder
3/4 teaspoon Green Stevia Leaf Powder
1/3rd cup plus 1 Tablespoon Amber Agave Nectar
(can also substitute with Coconut Nectar, Yacon Syrup to taste)

Mix all of this up in the order listed. Each item that you add mix in first before adding the next.. That way you make sure your mix is well incorporated. End with the Agave Syrup..

Prepare 3 dehydrator trays with Teflex sheets. Place 1/3rd of the mixture on each sheet, use your hands or a spreader to spread approx 3/8 inch thick. The mixture should be a little moist, which is how you want it to be.. The end result will be it is nice and chewy!!

Dehydrate at 145 for 1 hour and then reduce temperature to 115. When your granola is dry enough to peel off the Teflex sheets, and place onto the grid sheets. Continue to dehydrate until dry.

This is one of our favourite recipes from a past contest winner of our Customer Creations Contest – By Karen from QC. Let us know how you like the recipe or any modifications you may have made that put your own spin on it. Enjoy!

School is nearing its end and soon there will be a lot of children outside playing. With all this expended energy comes ‘I’m Hungry! What’s there to eat?’ Instead of opting for the cheetos and pop, why not give them something to snack on that is nutritional, good for them and easy to make, yet best of all tastes great? Make this summer a good one for them and yourself, and try making something together. Kids usually love to create and build things, so here’s a snack idea they can participate in the making of at almost any age. A fun-to-make snack with your children is trail mix. You will need a large container to mix it in and a measuring cup. Place ½ cup of the following ingredients:

Almonds, Pecans, Pistachios, Coconut shreds, Cacao nibs, Goji berries, Mulberries, Incan berries, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Red Flame Raisins, Cashews & Yacon slices

If there is an allergy to nuts, just eliminate them and add some dried fruits like figs, or dates instead. You can heat it up by adding some of your favorite spices or one of the ready mixed ones we have like our Vegan Cheesy Mix that can be added to anything not just salads. Also comes in Original Mix for a different ‘seasoning’ to add to the trail mix. Other popular choices if you like that cheesy taste is Rawmesan, or Herbs’n’Spice Rawmesan Simply mix the ingredients thoroughly together in the container. You now have a ready-made snack for whenever the friends come over unannounced. Leave them out at a get together and they will end up trying it out, and with the mix of salty, sweet, or spicy if you choose, it is a sure hit for their sweet or savoury preferences. Trail mixes also work well on camping trips or even sleep-overs providing an option for a tasty yet nutritious treat.

If making a trail mix doesn’t fit into your busy lifestyle, yet you still want something good for your kids, then we have ready- made ones as well! Check out our wide selection HERE! Try a trail mix as a snack for work even, or that five of clock drive home, you will be surprised how it can just ‘hit the spot’ for yourself too. Are you a do-it-yourself snack/food maker or do you prefer the ready made ones? Do you have a favourite trail mix preference or recipe that you enjoy making? Let us know your thoughts..