Make your own granola

We love to eat granola for breakfast and I often find myself lazily buying a few bags each week.  Even though I check the bags carefully, there are still many ingredients in the granola that I do not want or need, preservatives, too much oil or sugar, or other artificial products.  I remember my Mom would make homemade granola when we were kids. It made the house smell so good and was a delicious breakfast for a big group.

There are two ingredients that you should not skimp on in this recipe,  your oats and your vanilla.  I have often shared my love for anything made by Bob’s Red Mill, and I truly think this brand of oats is better than the rest.  Second, you need really good vanilla. Neilsen Massey vanilla bean paste is our favorite. We are not embarrassed to say we have a quart size container.  You can use this vanilla bean paste in any recipe that calls for regular vanilla, it will just make that recipe taste oh so much better.  This vanilla has the little specks of vanilla bean that will make your homemade vanilla ice cream look professional and taste incredible.

So now that you have your oats and you have your vanilla, you must decide what mix-ins your family will enjoy.  Some suggestions are:

raisins

nuts

chips

coconut flakes

chia or hemp seeds

This granola recipe is totally customizable. When I make it I throw in whatever I have in my cupboard.  I am posting my basic recipe, but please do not be afraid to experiment and make it your own.  This recipe is easy enough that your children can make it themselves, put it in a mason jar, tie it up with a ribbon and have a nice thank you gift for their teacher.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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Make your own granola

Ingredients

• 3 cups Bob’s Red Mill Oats
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2T. coconut oil
• 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup pecan pieces
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with non stick material like parchment paper or Silpat. In a large bowl combine all your dry ingredients. Pour on your wet ingredients evenly. Stir it all so that it is coated and smelling delicious. Spread this mixture onto your pan and bake for 30 minutes. Important step, make sure you move the granola around, stir it with a spatula every 10 minutes! Remove from the oven after 30 min and let cool completely. Enjoy as a cereal, ice cream topping, or in your yogurt. Can also be eaten as a snack straight from your container. Make again the next day as it will probably be gone very quickly!

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