Granola

Posted: January 8th, 2010 | Filed under: Breakfast | Tags: breakfast granola, dried fruit, Granola, honey granola, nuts | 3 Comments »

Its a new year… a new chance to kick my butt into shape… to get my caloric intake into control… to cut back on sugar and start being really good about eating fresh healthy raw vegetables!

Yeah right.

Don’t get me wrong… I’ll be hitting the gym… hard–because I love sugar… I love love love sugar. And yes… I dig the veggie, but sugar and I have a very special relationship that I’m not ready to give up on just yet. This can also be seen in my version of granola… its a little on the sweet and delicious side… and isn’t completely terrible for you either…

2c rolled oats (not the quick cook)

1tbsp ground cinnamon

1tsp salt

4tbsp vegetable oil

1/4c honey

1/4c packed light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Add-ins: dried cranberries, dried golden raisins, dried apricots, dried figs, sliced walnuts, pecanss… whatever your heart desires… or not.

Heat oven to 325, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Put your rolled oats, cinnamon, and salt in medium mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl wisk together the wet ingredients. After whisked and combined, pour over the oats. Combine until a little clumpy, all coated and sticky. Slice and dice your add ins to your sizes of choice, add into the oat mixture. Pour onto the baking pan, and smooth out till nice and even. Put in the oven and let bake 10min, take out and flip around the granola so that it gets all nice and clumpy and crisp, bake for another 5 min and flip again. Five more minutes in the oven and let that granola out. Let cool all the way to room temperature on a cooling rack in the pan – seriously, don’t touch it until its room temp. This could take a while. Don’t get sneaky. Break up into clump-ies and store in an airtight container. Enjoy with milk, yogurt, or all by itself.

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