Granola

I found this recipe the other day and really liked it. I thought I would share...

Fruit + Nut Granola (adapted from Real Simple)

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup unsalted pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place parchment on baking sheet (located next to the wax paper and aluminum foil) and set aside. In a large bowl toss the oats, almonds, coconut and pepitas with the maple syrup, oil and salt. Pour evenly onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and make sure the mixture is evenly distributed. Bake for 25 minutes (and not a minute longer!). After removing the baking sheet from the oven, pour the dried cherries on top of the mixture and carefully toss. Allow to cool before placing the granola in an airtight container (I like those glass lock containers from Costco).

A few notes regarding ingredients:
Pepitas: I found these at the farmer's market
Unsweetened Coconut: Also at the farmer's market
Pure Maple Syrup: The best price per ounce can be found at Costco with Target being a close second with their Archer Farms brand. I ended up using my favorite syrup, Log Cabin Light and it turned out great.
Dried Tart Cherries: Good versions can be found at Target (again, Archer Farms) or at the farmers market. I omitted these since I prefer fresh berries with my granola in the summer.

Yet another find from www.stephmodo.com via www.cafezupa.com

Granola

This is my best recipe for granola. I've adjusted it just the way we like it. It's a little time consuming, but well worth the result. I keep ours in the freezer and we eat it for breakfast with berries and yogurt almost daily.

10 c. rolled oats
1 c. wheat germ
½ lb. shredded coconut
1 c. sunflower seeds
3 c. almonds, pecans, walnuts or combination, chopped
1 ½ c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 ½ c. water
1 ¼ c. oil
1 c. honey
1 ½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
3 tsp. vanilla

In large bowl combine oats, wheat germ, coconut, sunflower seeds and nuts. Blend well. In saucepan, combine remaining syrup ingredients. Heat until sugar is dissolved, but do not boil. Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well-coated. Pour onto 5 cookie sheets. Bake until golden brown (20-30 min), stirring occasionally. (I usually bake 2 sheets and one time and rotate/stir them about every 10 minutes) Cool. (I've also found if you like chunky pieces, you need to let it cool completely on the cookie sheet). Put in airtight containers and store in a cool, dry place