Save money! Be healthy! Have fun! Make your own granola!

I found this recipe in the Sunday Parade magazine a few years ago. I literally never read that thing, but I was bored... or maybe it was fate? We used to actually mail-order granola from Hobee's in Northern California because it was just the best. Believe me when I say: this is better!

Granola

Excellent
275°/1 hour total

In a large bowl, combine:
2 c old-fashioned oats
1/2 c wheat germ
2-3 T dark brown sugar
1/4 t salt
1-1 ½ c “extra” ingredients (sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, coconut, etc) (NOT dried fruit)

In a saucepan, heat to a simmer:
1/4 c maple syrup
3 T vegetable oil
1 T water
flavoring (I use 1T vanilla and 1/2 T cinnamon, but you could use different extracts for different tastes)

Drizzle the liquid over the oat mixture and stir to combine. Pour into a greased/sprayed 9x13 pan, then squeeze by handfuls to form small clumps. Bake 30 min at 275 °. Stir in dried fruit (if desired) (1-1 ½ c total of banana chips, raisins, dates, dried cherries, etc) and bake another 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool – can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Note: I usually make a double batch of the dry ingredients and a triple of the liquid, because that’s how I like it. I also usually end up using about 1/2 cup of each of the “extras” – again, that’s our preference. With the bigger batch I use two large jellyroll pans for the baking (so it dries and browns better). As with most of my recipes, this one is pretty open to personal interpretation.