Granola

This is my recipe for granola, a wonderful thing to have around to eat with milk, on yogurt, on ice cream, on baked fruit, or just on its own as a snack.  It makes the house smell divine.  It seems like it has a lot of sweetener, but it makes 18 half-cup servings, so you get very little (less than 1/2 tablespoon) of sweetener with each serving.   Fat is the same, and of course these are good fats.  You can use this as a template to create your own.

Granola 

Ingredients:

• 6 cups old fashioned rolled oats (not quick or instant)
• 2 cups nuts and seeds, raw, if possible
• I use sliced or slivered almonds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds - a superfood!), flax seeds, and sesame seeds.
• 1 cup coconut (unsweetened flaked is best but any kinds works)
• 1/4 cup grape-seed, canola, or other neutral oil
• this is totally optional, but I find it adds some depth
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• Or add/sub sweetener of your choice - I think 1/2 cup (total) is about right, but you could certainly use more (up to 1 cup) or less, especially since the coconut adds a nice sweetness
• 2t vanilla
• 1T cinnamon
• 1t salt
• 1 cup dried fruit 
• I use cranberries or cherries

Method:

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

2) Mix all dry ingredients except for fruit in large bowl

3) Mix all wet ingredients in separate bowl, add to dry, and mix well

4) Pour into two baking sheets and spread in an even layer

5) Bake approximately 30 minutes, stirring once half-way through.  Do NOT let it go until it looks toasty (if it looks brown in the oven, it's too much) - it will crisp up as it cools.

6) Mix in fruit and allow to cool completely.  Store in airtight container for as long as it lasts - I honestly can't say how long it stays good because it's always gone in a few days in my house.