Nutty Granola

Don’t you love getting a delicious homemade something as a holiday gift? I know I do. And while tempting cookies, brownies, and you-know-where-I’m-going, are always gratefully accepted, it’s cool to get something terrific and actually good-for-you to counter the potential sugar bombardment. Enter high fiber, low in sugar, nutty granola.

Perfect as a topping for your morning or lunch yogurt with fruit, on your cereal or oatmeal for added crunch or as a snack (though I know I don’t need added snacks this  time of year, thank you. I can hear a chocolate chip cookie calling for me right this second from the kitchen).

Granola is very easy to make and SO vastly superior to the over-the-top sweet stuff for sale (I don’t care who makes it). I adapted this from Ellie Krieger’s, The Food You Crave – Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life.

The recipe is terrific any time of year, for yourself or for gifts (in ziploc bags or plastic containers). I usually have some of this granola on hand (Hi Andra!). It can be stored either in the fridge or pantry. I tend to split up the batch –  otherwise my Novio and I eat it up way too quickly. I like to spread the love over a bit of time.

NUTTY GRANOLA

adapted from Ellie Krieger’s The Food You Crave

Ingredients:

2 c. rolled oats (old-fashioned oatmeal)

1/2 c. sliced or slivered raw almonds

1/2 c. walnut pieces

1/2 c. raw pecan pieces

1/4 c. shredded coconut (optional)

1/4 c. safflower or canola oil

3 T. maple syrup

1/8 t. sea salt

1/4 t. cinnamon

2 T. flax seed meal (optional)

1/4 c.  dried apricots, rough chop

1/4 c. raisins, golden or dark

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 300°F. Mix all ingredients minus the dried fruit in bowl.

Place parchment paper or aluminum foil on lightly greased rimmed baking sheet (otherwise your delicious granola will go slip-sliding away when you take it out! [great for a Paul Simon song but not great for our granola] ). Spread granola on baking sheet in even layer with the back of your mixing spoon. (Let’s keep our kitchen utensils to a minimum, shall we?)

Bake for a total time of 26-30 minutes, until browned. Stir it every 10 minutes for even browning. Add dried fruit for last 5 minutes. Let cool completely before storing.