Today we have a special guest, Elise Barber. She has recently turned her innate passion for healthy living into a career through publishing this niche recipe book that shares her baking expertise with the world. Elise is available to discuss her own tips for healthy eating and how that came full circle as she took her knowledge not only into the kitchen, but also onto paper, as she compiled her own recipes that she shares in her fun and simple recipe book.
Her book Homemade Granola has great delicious recipes that use oats and muesli. I was able to do an interview and ask some questions. You’ll find those questions and answers below:
- Describe your cookbook. What should your readers expect?
My cookbook is full of mix-and-match granola recipes that readers can customize to suit their own tastes and nutrition needs. Readers can choose one of the dry mix recipes given, and combine that with a granola flavor of their choice. My recipes contain less sugar and fat than granola you find at the grocery store, and no preservatives or strange ingredients. With the huge variety of flavor options, I hope everyone can find their favorite new breakfast in my book! Additionally, I’ve included many ways to use your delicious granola beyond a bowl and milk! You can find muffins, cookies, trifles, energy balls and more, all containing granola!
- Do you have a favorite recipe from your cookbook?
My absolute favorite recipe, the one I bake nearly every week, is my peanut butter granola. This is the flavor that got me into granola in the first place!
- Did you have any challenges while writing this cookbook?
I think there’s challenges with writing every cookbook- what to include, perfecting recipes. To be honest, one of the most unexpected challenges was a supply based one. I wrote part of the book while living in Germany, and part while living in Canada, and there were some things I couldn’t get in each place. For example, I use my favorite natural peanut butter in all my peanut butter granolas, and I couldn’t get that, or even anything very similar, in Germany! My parents had to stuff their suitcase full of it when they came to visit.
- How long did it take you to write your cookbook?
That’s a tough question to answer! I’ve been slowly developing recipes for years as I thought of new flavors I wanted to try. When I got to actually writing the book, it took about a year to pull it all together!
- What did you enjoy most about writing your cookbook?
Tasting recipes, of course, and sharing them with my family! I loved baking multiple versions of the same granola, and then taking notes on what everyone liked the best.
- Have you always loved to bake?
I have! I used to bake with my mom a lot as a child, until I started doing it a lot on my own. I used to enjoy making cupcakes especially, until my tastes and therefore baking went in a bit of a healthier direction. In addition to granola, I now love baking bread, healthy muffins, granola bars- things my husband and I can enjoy every day!
- Do you have any secret baking tips?
Working with the best possible ingredients will always yield better results! I love working with local, in-season produce, real, natural nut butters, and fresh, high quality maple syrup, honey and spices.
- What made you want to have a cookbook about granola?
Granola is something that I enjoy so much, but didn’t like always having to buy. It’s expensive, and I always cringed at the ingredient list, particularly the amounts of sugar. I love baking my own granola, and I wanted to share my recipes so others can do the same! Additionally, I’ve always dreamed of publishing a cookbook, so this is an amazing opportunity to do so, about a food that I love.
- Granola is such a popular item for breakfast. Do you know of any great health benefits or anything good about granola?
Oats contain lots of fibre and protein, making them a great breakfast food. By including healthy fats and other protein sources like nuts, granola becomes a breakfast that will keep you satisfied through to lunch without making you feel heavy or over-full. Granola is a great way to incorporate seeds into your diet, adding in a lovely dose of omega 3, vitamin E, and a host of other important nutrients. I also love mixing fruit and yogurt into mine, making it a varied and complete meal!
- Do you have any advice for someone that may want to publish a cookbook?
Write about something you love! It’s a lot of cooking or baking and recipe testing, and it’s easy to tire of making something over and over again, so it helps if you love eating it!
- Is there anything you’d like to add/say that I didn’t mention?
Not that I can think of! Thanks so much for taking an interest in my book! I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of my recipes!
We used to make our own granola. I am not sure why we stopped. Thanks for the inspiration to get back on that train! Congrats on your cookbook!
I’ve never made my own granola before. I’m glad to try out this cookbook because I do love granola too!
That sounds so good! I eat granola in my yogurt everyday. I’ve never tried making it for myself.
Me either! I’m excited to try making it myself!
Wonderful interview! Her peanut butter granola sounds so good. I am going to have to try that one!
It sure does! I can’t wait to try it too.
I’ve never made my own granola! Great interview and insight into the process!
Me either! I’m excited to try to make my own.
We’ve been making homemade granola for years! It really is the only way to go because you know everything that went in it, and it’s exactly what you want it to be!
That’s great to hear! I’m excited to start making my own too.
I love to see cookbooks that offer healthy and easy to prepare recipes. This would make a lovely Christmas gift for my MIL!
Me too! I love cookbooks.
You came up with some very insightful questions here.
I look forward to trying it.
Thanks! I can’t wait to try making some granola.
Granola is something that I have not eaten a whole lot of. Sure, I have tried it on several occasions, but it isn’t something that I eat regularly. I did not know that you could actually make a cookbook out of the ideas for granola. That is pretty interesting.
Isn’t it! I thought it was great that you could make so many recipes with it.
Making your own granola sounds like such a good idea! Yum!
It sure does!
This sounds delicious! Gotta try this one!
Right! I can’t wait.
Homemade Granola sounds like a great cookbook. I will have to pick up a copy and give it a try. Granola is one of my favorite snacks.
Me too! It always tastes great.
This looks like a great cookbook. I have been looking for healthier snack ideas. I will have to check it out.
Me too! Granola is always great.
This is a great interview. I will have to get a copy for my Sister. She collects cookbooks and I want to try a few recipes.
Great! I love cookbooks too!
This reminds me of an episode of the Slate Cultural Gabfest. They did a whole segment on granola and who’s was better. It was very entertaining and made me want to create my own granola, which I can now do with this book.
I’m excited to make it as well. I think this will be great!
What a lovely interview and a peek inside this author’s process! I would love to make my own granola and am definitely going to check out this book!
Me too! I can’t wait to see all the recipes.
Granola is one of my favorite snacks to experiment with. It goes well with so many things. I will have to pick up a copy of this cookbook.
It sure does! I love it with yogurt and fruits.
We’ve made our own granola, but I’d love to get this book and expand our repertoire! I love trying new recipes!
Me too! I love all kinds of cookbooks as well.
I totally need to get this book. My husband and I LOVE granola! We need to start making our own.
Granola really is good. I’m excited to try to make it as well.
I have a friend that would love this book. She makes a new kind of granola every weekend.
That’s great! Sounds like she really would love this cookbook.
I love granola (especially in my yogurt). How cool that she created a whole cookbook around it!
Right! I thought that was great.
I haven’t made my own granola before, but now I want to. Thanks for sharing this book!
You’re welcome! I’ve never made granola either, so I’m excited to try it out.
Great interview. Interesting to hear where she was writing and her dealing with supply issues while in different places. Love hearing little details like that.
Me too! I love a great interview.
Such a perfect gift, I can’t wait to try these for my family. Glad you share this
I agree. This would make a great gift.
I love having granola in my yogurt for breakfast in the morning but it’s expensive. I will have to see about getting this cookbook so I can make my own.
I agree. It can get expensive. This is why I’m excited to make it myself!
This looks like a great cookbook to add to my collection. I love creating in the kitchen and making my own granola would be a plus.
I love cookbooks as well. I have a great collection. 🙂
I love adding granola to my yogurt. However, I never even remotely thought about making my own.
Same here!
I never eat granola enough because I can’t think of yummy ways to enjoy it! This was pretty inspirational and now I have ideas!
There are a ton of ways to eat it. This cookbook will be great for all the recipes.
I loved reading this post. You did a good job interviewing Ms. Elise Barber. I’d love to try two or more of her granola recipes!
Thank you! I’m excited to try some of the recipes myself.
We love granola and I would love to make her peanut butter granola. I will have to check her cookbook.
Doesn’t it sound amazing?! I thought so.
I eat granola daily so I will have to check out the book and find some new recipes. I can’t wait to see the trifles recipe
Great! I’m sure you’ll love this book then.
This sounds like a great cookbook and something i will have to check out for sure. The peanut butter granola would be something my sons would definitely love to try. Thanks for sharing this cookbook and a great interview.
You’re welcome. I’m certainly going to try the peanut butter granola. Is sure does sound amazing.
I’ve never made my own granola. It sounds wonderful. I do agree I love working with seasonal local produce as well.
I’ve never made it either. I’m excited to try making it myself.
Wow, this sounds lovely to make and seems so easy. We can’t wait to make it!
Same here! I love granola.
Amazing opportunity. I love her energy during the whole interview and she definitely has a passion for cooking good food. I like the idea of making my own granola at home, it’s easy, cheaper, and it has all the ingredients that I like.
I agree! I’m excited to try making granola now.
My son loves granola bars so I will try this. I am sure that he will like this.
Great! I bet he sure will!
Wow, what a lovely share. I can’t wait to try it. I love eating granola mixes too!
Me too! Granola is so good.
I love homemade granola, it is easy to make and you can change up the flvors as you want to!
I’ve never made it before, but I’m excited to start.
Reminds me of my early childhood. My parents were major hippies and we used to make granola all the time. There are so many cool variations you can do on it.
That’s awesome! I can’t wait to start making some too.
Sounds like a great cookbook.. I love healthy recipes, can’t wait to read this one
Me too!
sounds like an amazing cookbook, I’d like to try making my own granola! thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m excited to try making it too.
I love cookbooks and granola. This looks like a cookbook I want to add to my collection.
Same here!