Favorite Granola (recipe)

There are very few meals I can eat in the morning without feeling ill a few hours later; carbs before proteins are deadly. This granola is magical for me, because the nuts, seeds, fruit fiber and fats round out the oats and sweeteners.  One bowl of this with milk, cream or yogurt, and I feel amazingly balanced.

I make granola about once a month and we seem to eat it as fast as I can make it. Last month I tripled the following recipe, producing somewhere above 30 cups; we finished it in less than a week.

Yesterday for the first time the recipe was quadrupled, and as I managed to actually take a picture of some of it, I’m (re) sharing it here for all of you!

GRANOLA RECIPE

Ingredients:

6 c. raw rolled oats

1/3 to 1/2 c. melted butter or oil (I use butter and/or coconut oil)

1/2 to 2/3 c. honey, molasses and/or pure maple syrup (I like to combine all three with only a touch of molasses.  If you have to chose one only, I suggest maple syrup)

 1/3 c. wheat germ (optional–I don’t add)

 salt to taste (optional–I do add!)

Additions:

1 1/2 c. chopped nuts (any combo; I use almond, walnut, pecan)

1 1/2 c. seeds (any combo; I use flax, pumpkin, chia and sunflower)

1 1/2 c. dried fruit pieces (any combo; I use coconut, raisins, date pieces and sometimes cranberries)

Directions:

1. Mix oats, oil, sweeteners, wheat germ, salt, nuts and seeds (all seeds but chia, keep chia seeds and fruit to add at the end).

2. Spread fairly thin on cookie sheets or in large casserole pans.

3. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes, stirring often.  Remove when oats begin to brown.

4. Pour into a large mixing bowl, and add fruit.  Mix well.

5. Let cool, then store in airtight containers.  (We use mason jars, recycled yogurt containers and large tupperware.)

Notes:

*Granola will keep well for a very long time.  The longest we’ve kept ours has been a month, but that’s only because that’s how long it took us to eat the whole batch when our family numbered few.  I’m sure it could stay fresh even longer.

*This is a very forgiving recipe, so as long as you don’t burn it you’ll be fine.  Portions don’t have to be exact.

 *The oats, oil and sweeteners are the base, the wheat germ, nuts, seeds and fruit are optional and can vary depending upon your preference.  Add spices, if you want!  Add chocolate!  This is an awesome recipe to use as an outline–tweak as you like.

 *The recipe doubles (or triples, or quadruples) well.