Muesli

Im reading a huge amazing book named "Organic & Wholefoods" Naturally delicious cuisine by Culinaria KONEMANN. I highly recommend it! I was reading about one of the pioneers of organic farmers and muesli suject took my attention so I want to share it with you (this part taken from wikipedia though):

Muesli originally (Bircher) müesli in Swiss German, Müsli in German is a popular breakfast dish (breakfast cereal) based on uncooked rolled oats and fruit. In Switzerland, it is also eaten as a light evening dish; there Birchermüesli complet is muesli with butterbrot and milk coffee.

There are two main variants of muesli, fresh and dry. The first type of muesli is a loose mixture of mainly rolled oats and often also wheat flakes, together with various pieces of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Today, dry muesli is widely available in the form of pre-packaged mixes. Many people also enjoy mixing their own. There are many varieties, some of which also contain honey powder, spices, or chocolate. Dry muesli can be stored conveniently for many months. It is served quickly after mixing it with milk, yoghurt, or fruit juice and (if available) pieces of fresh fruit. Fresh muesli, made using rolled oats, orange juice, blended apple and banana, redcurrants, raisins, cottage cheese, topped with raspberries.

The second type of muesli is a freshly prepared mixture that includes rolled oats that have been soaked in water or fruit juice, as well as finely grated or blended apple. Other popular ingredients include additional grated or chopped fresh fruit (e.g., bananas, berries, grapes, mango), dried fruit, milk products (e.g., yogurt, cream, condensed milk, fromage frais, quark, cottage cheese), lemon juice, ground nuts, seeds, spices (especially cinnamon), honey, and muesli mix. People who use an electric blender to prepare apples for fresh muesli find that adding a piece of banana eases the process. Fresh muesli is not suitable to be mixed with fresh milk, which easily coagulates when in the presence of the acids in apple or lemon juice.

History

Muesli was invented in 1900 by Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The term is a diminutive of the Swiss German noun "Mues" (German: "Mus"), a cooking term for a semi-liquid made from raw or cooked fruit that lacks an exact English equivalent, but that is related to mush, paste, compote or the French purée.


Original Bircher-Benner muesli recipe

The original Bircher-Benner recipe is still a prototype for most fresh muesli today (serves 1):

1 tablespoon rolled oats, soaked in 2–3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sweet cream (condensed milk may be substituted)
200 grams apple (about one large, preferably a sour variety), finely grated and mixed with the above directly before serving
optionally top with 1 tablespoon ground hazelnuts or almonds


Health benefits

All the main ingredients of muesli are considered important elements of a healthy diet:

A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and other age-related diseases, and fresh muesli is a tasty way to start the day with one or two portions of fresh fruit.

Oat products have been shown to help lower high blood cholesterol concentration (hypercholesterolemia) and thereby reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Products made from whole oat and wheat grains are rich in fibre and essential trace elements.

Some types of nuts (especially walnuts) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with many health benefits, including the development of the nervous system.

Milk products, often served with muesli, are a rich source of calcium and protein.

This formula it quickly became popular everywhere. Soon companies began to manufacture and market it in a dried version. It is very interesting! You see is healthy so start to eat muesli!!!:-)