Mom's Cereal

Don’t let the fact that I refer to it as “twig and bark” cereal deter you, people who like dry cereal (translate as everyone but me) give my mom’s cereal rave reviews.

Besides being yummy it is also homemade, economical and healthy too! Here’s her recipe:

Cereal recipe:
10 cups rolled oats (2 lb.)
1.5 cups sliced almonds (4 oz.)
2 cups raw cashew pieces (8 oz.)
1.5 cups raisins (8 oz.)
2 cups dried unsweetened bananas (5 oz.)
1 cup brown sugar (4 oz.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Chop cashews, mix oats and nuts and spread in a large cake or roasting pan in a thin layer. Toast for 15 minutes, stirring once after about 8 minutes. This will require at least two batches or two pans.

While oats cool break the banana chips into small pieces, separate any clumps of raisins and mix sugar with fruit evenly. Add to oats and nuts and mix well.

When completely cool store in airtight containers.

Makes about 17 cups.

(This is the cool chopper we use to chop nuts.)

The closest estimate we could make is that one half cup (a small serving) has about 207 calories and cost about $.24. Mom estimated calories by weighing ingredients, converting to grams and using the USDA's Nutritive Values of Foods.

Some notes on the process: use a pan with sides so you can stir the cereal. Also, bulk oats from a health food store can be much cheaper than supermarket oats and you can also find organic ones.