Granola

I love granola and could eat it every day for breakfast. The best part about granola is that you can make it any way you like, don't like an ingredient? No problem, leave it out or substitute it for one that you do like. See below for "real food" recipe using coconut oil. Both recipes make a huge batch- 16 cups worth, enough to fill a 4 quart plastic cereal keeper.

Granola

8 cups rolled oats

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup oat bran

1/2 cup flax seed

1 cup flaked coconut

2 cups of your favorite nuts, chopped (I love pecans, almonds and raw sunflower seeds)

2 cups dried fruit (raisins, craisins- stir in after baking)

 

Syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

After baking add:
2 cups raisins and or sweetened dried cranberries
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.

Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on two baking sheets lined with foil or parchment.

Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. (Don't overcook though- it doesn't have to turn brown- it will get crunchy after it cools.) Stir in raisins or cranberries and store in an airtight container (if you cook the raisins they will taste really nasty and be too tough to eat).

*adapted from allrecipes.com


Granola with coconut oil and natural sweeteners

8 cups rolled oats

1 cup wheat germ
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup flax seed
2 cups of your favorite nuts chopped (pecans, almonds, raw sunflower seeds)
1-2 cups flaked unsweetened coconut
2 cups raisins or other dried fruit (stir in after baking)


Syrup
1 cup coconut oil at room temperature (should be soft)
1 cup honey
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325

In a large bowl stir together coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients and mix well (do not add raisins or other dried fruit at this time).

Spread the mixture out evenly on two baking sheets lined with foil or parchment.



Bake in the preheated oven about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. (Don't overcook though- it doesn't have to turn brown- it will get crunchy after it cools.) Stir in raisins or other dried fruit and store in an airtight container.