Homemade Granola

Can't stand the price of the granola cereals out there? I know I can't and refuse to buy them, even though I LOVE granola.
Since I love granola so much, I started years ago making it on occasion. Being in the mood for some granola and NOT going to pay nearly 5$ a box for it, I pulled out my classic stand by recipe and began.
So here's the simple granola recipe that I use. This is a base. You can add extra items to kick it up a notch (see list at the bottom). You can always add fresh fruit when you serve it too. It doesn't take much for a serving, so start small, it will fill you up! Enjoy and reap the benefits of your own granola..laugh maniacally at the grocery isle granola as you pass it up!

3/4 C brown sugar
1/3 C Veggie oil (you fav. brand)
1/3 C honey (use a local honey if you can to help prevent allergies)
5 C whole oats. (oatmeal, NOT INSTANT and NOT ONE MINUTE)
3/4 t. cinnamon
pinch of salt
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Grease a large cookie sheet and heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix brown sugar, oil and honey in saucepan. Heat and stir till sugar dissolves. Pour sugar mixture over dry mix a little at a time and mix thoroughly. Continue till all sugar mix is used. You may have to use your hands for the final mix, be careful it could be hot. Spread granola onto cookie sheet and bake in oven for 10-15 minutes. Stir once about 1/2 way through cooking. Let cool in pan completely. Store in airtight container.

Extras that you can add (all items BUT raisins/crasins should be added pre cooking)
up to 1 C nuts, raisins, cut up prunes or craisins
up to 1/2 flax seed, sesame seed, wheat germ..get creative!
Play with these measurements, you may like more or less of any one item.
I usually mix about 1 C of nuts, then after baking about 1/2 C raisins
You can also add vanilla into the sugar mix if you like. Use 1/2-1 t. vanilla.
*One hint, do not add the raisins till after you bake in oven.
This granola has a longer storage life then the other recipe I've posted here made with butter. You can store this one in an airtight container for about a month.
Enjoy your homemade granola!

What's for Breakfast baby?

Well, I tell ya, I LOVE granola cereal, but the one thing I hate about it is the COST!! The average name brand box of granola cereal costs $4-6 here! OUCH!
So here ya go, a homemade granola recipes for you and trust me on this, you will NOT be disappointed. It's better then the store bought, and you KNOW what's in it.

SO let's get to cookin'! Get your wooden spoons ready!

Heat up your oven..275-300.. Get out a medium saucepan, a cookie sheet and a very large bowl. (Line the cookie sheet with wax paper OR grease the pan.

In the saucepan, heat up and melt together these ingredients:
1 stick butter (or margarine) this equals 1/2 Cup
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water

While that's going on, in the big bowl put these ingredients.
4 cups rolled oats (Old Fashioned, NOT quick oats!)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix the cinnamon in first, then add the salt to the top (salt is optional but is a flavor enhancer)

You can stop right here as far as ingredients go..seriously. BUT learn to play with this recipe.
You can add a cup of dried anything, from nuts, to fruit to coconut, to wheat germ. The choice is yours.
1/2 cup dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries or your fav (optional)
1/2 cup nuts or seeds; pecans, peanuts, walnuts, sesame..you pick (optional)
This gets added last, so measure out what you want to add to your granola and set aside.

Remove the butter/sugar mixture from the heat (you only want it to simmer about 3 minutes) and get your wooden spoon ready,..pour the butter/sugar over the oatmeal and cinnamon in the big bowl and stir! Stir! STIR! If it cools down enough, get your hands in there and squish it a bit so you can form little clusters. Coat the oats with the sugar till the mixture is moistened all over.
All done?? Good...
Get out your cookie sheet, a large one with sides if you have it. Spread the granola on the cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven, add your last ingredient...your cup of 'dried whatever'.. mix well with a spoon and return to the oven for the last 5-10 minutes. Bake till it's golden brown. (give it a golden color) Remove the pan from the oven. Now let it all cool..in the pan. When it is cool, break it up into small pieces, toss well to incorporate the nuts and fruit and transfer it to clean canister or storage of your choice.
BREAKFAST IS ON!

Storage on this is only about a week or so due to 'butter'. Store in airtight container.