Monday, March 19, 2007

Homemade Granola

1 cup canola or olive oil (or oil of your choice)
1 1/2- 2 cups honey or pure maple syrup (depending on how sweet you like it)
6 cups rolled oats (or old fashioned, if you don't have them quick oats will do)
1-2 cups unsweetened coconut
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup flax seeds (whole)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon (more or less according to your preferences)
Optional: 1 cup steel cut oats (for a different texture)

Preheat oven to 300* F. Combine dry ingredients together in a very large bowl (the lid for a rubbermaid cake carrier works well, also). Mix honey and oil together. Heating the oil and honey slightly in the microwave may help it to blend more easily. Add honey and oil mixture to oat mixture. Mix well. Spread granola mixture out over 2-3 cookie sheets (it may take more).

Bake granola in a 300* F oven, stirring every 10 minutes. Set your timer, it will burn quickly if it is not stirred regularly. It will take 1 -1 1/2 hours for it to bake. When the mixture is golden brown (it will ALL be the same color) then it is done. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheets. When cool, transfer it to airtight container(s). You can add your favorite dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried currents, etc.) or leave it plain.

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