Muesli

Muesli ( MEWZ-lee) is a cold Swiss dish that has become a common breakfast cereal prepared without cooking. Developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital in Switzerland, it is also consumed for supper as Birchermüesli complet, 'Bircher's complete little mush', i.e., muesli with café complet (milk coffee accompanied by Butterbrot (bread, butter and jam)). Traditionally, the primary ingredient in muesli is rolled oats which have not been processed further. The original preparation was to soak the oats in water overnight (now commonly called "overnight oats") and eat them the next morning with fresh apple, nuts, lemon juice, and sweetened condensed milk. Over time, variations became commonplace, including the substitution of other citrus juices, the combining of additional ingredients, such as grains, seeds, and fresh and dried fruits, and the addition of yogurt, milk or other milk products or milk substitutes. These additions and substitutions are considered common ingredients in both homemade and commercially packaged muesli recipes. Modern commercial brands market muesli that is toasted. If it is processed further, by adding sweetener and oil to bind the ingredients together and baked, it is granola.