A muesli breakthrough
In 1900, a Swiss doctor named Maximilian Bircher-Benner created a revolutionary (and wonderfully raw) concoction of soaked oats and fresh fruit which he fed to ailing patients as part of a balanced diet. In recent weeks, his müesli has enriched my mornings, thus elevating Max to the level of "personal hero" in my growing lexicon of food champions.
His basic recipe consists of oats, lemon juice, sweet cream, and apple. Using this as a base, I've been running some muesli experiments. Today's was Trial 6, and marked the tastiest bowl yet.
Bircher-Benner-Shaw Muesli
About 4 servings
First I create a muesli base, combining the following in an airtight container:
1 cup rolled oats
4 Tbsp wheat bran
4 Tbsp sliced almonds
5 apricots, chopped
3 dates, chopped
~1 Tbsp cinnamon
To prepare the cereal, I take 8 heaping tablespoons of the muesli base, put it in a bowl, and add just enough filtered water to cover the stuff. This I let soak overnight.
In the morning, I add juice from 1/4 lemon and 1/2 grated apple. The soaked oats and almonds form a nice creamy base, while the dates impart an essential sweetness. The fresh apple is the crowning touch, complimenting the almonds and bringing out the flavor of the cinnamon.
