Seriously Cereal

Isn’t it interesting the way we have developed an entire love affair with breakfast cereals in this country? The cereal section in the supermarket probably takes up more space than soft drink and that's saying something! For many Australians it is the only way to start the day. Travelling in France one year, after weeks of feasting on croissants, breads, cheeses and café au lait every morning, I couldn’t believe it when I began craving a good old bowl of cereal and milk. But then, I almost had to hire a detective to find me some! The French aren't particularly fond of starting the day with cereal.

But if you or your kids like the munch and crunch of cereal the best sort to eat is your own. Muesli is so ridiculously easy to make and you can do it just as your kids like it. Some will like lots of dried fruit and not so many nuts, some may like the unusual dried fruits such as cranberries, paw paw and figs, and some may prefer it toasted and really crunchy. So experiment with the ingredients. Try adding toasted coconut, grating in some fresh nutmeg or lightly toasting the sesame seeds, or throwing in a handful of puffed rice or corn for extra crunch.
My quick Bircher muesli (who ever remembers to soak the oats overnight?) is to simply mix the muesli with grated apple, sliced banana, some yoghurt and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Sometimes I blend cream or ricotta cheese with the yoghurt too. Kids love this version because it is so sweet and needs no milk – a sort of wet muesli bar!

MUMS MAGICAL MUESLI - so named by my son!

Ingredients:

6 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
½ cup linseeds
1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, macadamias etc)
1 cup chopped dried fruit (sultanas, dried apricots, peaches, currants, figs, cranberries etc)

Method:

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients well.
Store in an airtight container.
For toasted muesli, warm ½ cup olive oil and ½ cup honey together.
Stir into the oat and seed mixture (add the dried fruit later) and lay in a thin layer on baking trays.
Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes or until golden.