Making this basic, homemade granola is extremely simple and economical. You can easily vary the ingredients to suit your own taste.
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups organic quick-cooking oatmeal
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup hulled sesame seeds
1/3 cup butter or vegetable oil
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 dash salt
1/3 cup honey, agave, or maple syrup
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup raisins
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Mist the roasting pan or half-sheet pan with vegetable spray.
Combine oatmeal, coconut, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds in a large bowl and toss to combine. Pour the oat mixture into the roasting pan. Bake for about 20 minutes, tossing several times.
In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, salt, and honey and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
Increase oven temperature to 350°F. Add toasted wheat germ to the oats mixture.
Drizzle the sugar-honey syrup over the oats mixture, and toss the mixture with a fork to coat the dry mixture evenly.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for 5-6 minutes longer.
Add the raisins, and toss to combine. Press the granola mixture firmly into an even layer. Bake for 5 minutes or so longer, or until the granola is golden. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Using a flexible spatula, slip it under the granola to break it into large pieces. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Serve with yogurt and fresh fruit.
VARIATIONS:
This is a very simple recipe to adapt to other granola variations. You can replace the sunflower seeds with pumpkin seeds, use dried cranberries instead of raisins, or add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds or walnuts.
