Homemade Granola

Here is the recipe for Homemade Granola. It's very versatile and you can add or omit to your pleasure. I usually make mine without the honey or brown sugar since the dried fruits already provide enough sweetness. I love to add some to the yogurt, with fresh fruit or fruit sauce. Very tasty!

Homemade Granola

Ingredients

·         4 cups rolled oats (you may also use 2 cups of rolled oats and 2 cups of steel cut oats)

·         1 cup wheat germ

·         1 cup chopped walnuts or slivered almonds (or both)

·         1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)

·         1 teaspoon cinnamon

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1/3 cup vegetable oil

·         1/3 cup honey (optional)

·         1/3 cup water

·         1 (6-ounce) package dried sweetened cranberries or other dried fruits such as cherries, raisins, pineapple, or papaya (you may add more dried fruit if you don’t use brown sugar and honey)

Instructions

1.      Heat the oven to 300º. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

2.      Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey, and water. Toss the mixture until the ingredients are well combined, then spread it evenly on a cookie sheet.

3.      Bake the granola for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes to keep the mixture from sticking. Let it cool completely, and then stir in the cranberries or dried fruit. Makes about 7 cups. After it cools, transfer to a glass jar (it fits in 1 quart jar).