BLUE HILL — When Lucy Benjamin started making granola, she never imagined it would turn into a successful business. She first cooked it up for East Blue Hill library and post office bake sales and then to raise money for her youngest daughter’s schooling.

But a year after formally starting Lucy’s Granola, she has an ever-growing following.

“I think we’re doing something good here with health and nutrition,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin is one of several granola makers in the Downeast area. Most granola has a base of rolled oats, nuts and honey. Other ingredients such as raisins and fruit are often included.

Every granola mix is a little bit different. Lucy’s Granola comes in three varieties: Original, Gluten-free and Extra Seedy. The product is not like commercial granola because it isn’t heavily sweetened.

“I don’t flavor the granola, it’s just the ingredients that flavor it,” Benjamin said as she put together a batch in her East Blue Hill home. The sweet smell of baking granola summons people to Benjamin’s back door, warms her kitchen in the winter, and masks the granola’s healthy qualities.

“Each type is basically the same. Rolled oats, coconuts, almonds,” Benjamin said.

Extra Seedy differs in its addition of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and puffed rice. All three varieties are put together in two steps. A wet mix, including ingredients such as oil, maple syrup and honey, is combined with the dry mix, composed of the rolled oats base. Once combined, the granola is put in the oven and turned every 15 minutes.

Corral’s Granola is sold at the Ellsworth Farmers Market, A&B Naturals in Bar Harbor and Sawyer’s Market in Southwest Harbor. To order visit http://corralsgranola.com or call 667-9148.

 

Find Lucy’s Granola at The Cave in Brooklin, The Blue Hill Co-op, and Mainescape and Pure Maine in Blue Hill. Lucy also does custom orders and mail orders. To purchase these visit www.lucysgranola.com or call 374-2251.

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