Eat-it-Every-Day Granola

So many of you have this recipe already or have received bags of this granola.  When I make it, I always give away half.  Usually, I'm not sure who I'm going to give it to, but something always comes up--one of my clients, one of Yancey's (back when he was building houses), someone that's feeling sad or stressed or just not receiving the benefits of a granola-filled life. Maybe now I'll be sending it along to the fire chief.  He seems like someone you want on your side.

My mom is Queen Granola, and was making granola back when it was considered strange.  I remember she used to send it to my grandfather for gifts--he was notoriously hard to shop for, and he always raved about it. During the week after Wyatt was born, my parents stayed here and Mom cooked for us.  Our first morning home, she made a big batch of granola and served it with strawberries and yogurt.  Nothing ever tasted so good.  Oh, to be on the nursing diet again. More recently, I gave some to my father-in-law and his girlfriend for Christmas.  They report not caring much about granola in their previous life, but ended up fighting over the last oats.  I love to hear that.   Kerri, now you can have some all to yourself.

I always eat mine with yogurt, and have it every morning (and sometimes for lunch) when it's around.  Occasionally I'm stingy with the fruit and nuts if I'm running low, but usually my freezer is Nut Central, and I throw in big handfuls of whatever is around.  I have never purchased nuts at the grocery store.  Rip-Off of the Century.  I get them at Costco, Trader Joes, or PFI, and use them in embarrassing amounts.  The batch pictured here has almonds, hazelnuts, coconut, dried figs, cherries, and apricots.  

This week's extra bag is for my sister because I'm seeing her tomorrow and I love her.  Plus she comments on my blog.  Try it and see what good things happen for you.

Eat-it-Every-Day Granola

*The only thing this recipe has to have are the oats, oil, and sweetener.  Everything else is optional and mix/match depending on what you like (or your kids don't like) and what you have in your pantry.  I sometimes add finely chopped crystallized ginger as well.

6 c. old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 c. flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, wheat germ, or combination of any

3 or 4 cups nuts and seeds--almonds (whole, slivered, or sliced), sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pepitas, hazelnuts, pecans, etc.

1 or 2 c. coconut

1 ts. salt.

3/4 c. vegetable oil

3/4 cup pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, or combination of any

2 or 3 cups dried, roughly chopped fruit--apricots, cherries, figs, dates, blueberries, cranberries

Put racks in upper and lower thirds of oven preheat oven to 350.

Stir everything except the dried fruit together in a big bowl.  Spread mixture evenly on two large baking sheets with sides.  If you have parchment paper, this would be a good time to use it.  Bake, stirring granola and switching positions of sheets halfway through baking, until mixture is golden brown, 25-30 minutes.  If you're worried about burning, bake them one at a time.  

Cool granola completely on sheets, then stir in dried fruit.  Keep it in an airtight container and enjoy at least a week's worth of delicious breakfasts.  And give some away.  You'll start to have more friends on Facebook.