Granola

Granola is such a versatile food - it can be eaten straight out of the bag, with milk and fruit, with yogurt, or as a dessert parfait.  I made some granola the other day, using a slightly-modified recipe from a friend.  

 

Mixing up the wet ingredients.

 

 

The dry ingredients.

 

Coming out of the oven, dry and crispy. 

 

With milk and strawberries for breakfast, mmmm.

I love putting almonds in my granola.

Granola

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or applesauce)
• 1 cup honey (or maple syrup, or ect...)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat all wet ingredients together until sugar is melted.

Dry Ingredients:

• 9 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups almonds (or any kinds of nuts you would like)
• 1/2 cup flax seed

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread out on baking sheets (I had to use two) in a single layer (or at least as much as possible).  Bake at 300 degrees F, stirring often, until dry.  I baked mine for about 40 minutes, stirring about every 15 minutes.  Add 2 cups of dried fruit after baking (I like to add cranberries, but any dried fruit would do).  If you add the fruit before the baking, it has a tendency to burn.