Homemade granola

I am typically a cereal person in the morning (mostly because it's the quickest thing to eat), but every once in a while it's nice to change things up. When I go home to visit my family in Chico, this granola is always in the pantry. Most people think granola is a hard thing to make, but it's actually quite easy and quick.

All you do is...

 Dump the ingredients into a bowl.....

Melt some honey into oil and vanilla....

Mix it all together and spread out on a sheet pan....

Bake.....

 And eat!

And this time I'll actually post the recipe too. Note: Ingredients don't have to be measured super precisely....and you can add/eliminate things to your preference....it's fun to experiment!

Suzanne's Famous Cashew Granola

adapted from Cafe Beaujolais

4  cups      Regular oats (not instant or quick-cooking)

2/3 cup     Wheat germ or oat bran

2/3 cup     Unsweetened big flake coconut

6  Tb        Sesame seeds

6 Tb         Sunflower seeds

1/2 cup     Cashews

1/2 cup     Raw pumpkin seeds

2/3 cup     Corn oil

1/3 cup     Honey

1 tsp         Vanilla

1/4 tsp      Salt

1/2 cup     Dried fruit (optional - I don't usually put this in, but it's totally up to your preference)

Mix together oats, wheat germ or oat bran, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and nuts in a large bowl,

In a saucepan, combine corn oil, honey, vanilla, and salt. Cook over low heat until honey is melted. Pour over dry mixture and blend thoroughly.

Spread out in a lightly greased 10x15x1-inch pan and bake at 300 degrees for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Cool thoroughly, add optional fruit or raisins, and store in a plastic bag or airtight container.

Serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, or milk.

Happy Friday :)