Granola
I have a new name for granola: crack. That's really what it is. At least that's what my sister and I think.
It's too addicting not to be. I don't know what it is, but I'm always in the mood for it, and can never say no. It's good by itself, with some greek yogurt, as cereal, on ice cream, mixed in with some trail mix... really, just try it.
This recipe is special to me because it was given as a gift from my mom's old co-worker. I added a few new ingredients this time around, but really you can amend this basic granola recipe any way you'd like!
Examples: If you like chocolate, add some dark chocolate chips! Cashews? Mix 'em in! Pretzel M&Ms? Mmm. Dried Apricots? Not really my thing, but if it's for you, go for it!
Enjoy!
Granola
Ingredients
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup honey
1 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
5 cups Oats
1 cup bran cereal (like fiber one original!)
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans (or any type of nut you like! I did 1 cup cashews, 1/2 cup almonds and 1/2 cup chopped pecans!)
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup coconut (if you'd like)
1 cup craisins
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cherries (really you can add any dried fruit that you'd like!)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
Warm together cinnamon, brown sugar, honey, oil, salt, and vanilla in a saucepan over the stove until sugar is dissolved.
In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
Pour saucepan mixture over dry ingredients in large bowl and mix until all is coated.
Evenly spread granola on ungreased cookie sheet (may need to use 2) and bake in 3 increments of 10 minutes- stir granola in between.
* I've found that the third increment of 10 minutes tends to make the granola extra crispy/a little burned. This time around I just baked mine for two increments of 10 and the granola turned out perfect!
