Replacing the Boxed and Canned: Homemade Granola

I LOVE putting granola on my yogurt. So does Anthony. I've been buying granola from the "healthy" section of our local grocery store for a while now. You know.....that section where they have the huge plastic bins where you can scoop your own goodies into a baggie then twist tie it up and write the # down. That section of the grocery store. I'm finding I love that section more and more. 

Last month, when my friend Molly brought me a couple little baggies of her home made granola, I knew that was the way I was going to go from then on. All the added extras in the granola like the nuts and cranberries are the best! 

This morning I headed on over to her house so she could teach me how to make that delicious home made granola recipe she got from: 
http://foodbabe.com/2013/12/17/healthygranola/



Food Babe's Healthy Holiday Granola 
Serves 10


Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats
2 cups of raw nuts of your choice (I used pecans and almonds.)
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut. (I found this at my local health food store, The Grist Mill.)
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted...(Place measuring cup on a burner for a minute or two to melt it.) 
1/3 cup real maple syrup 
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (I used cinnamon)
3/4 cup dried cherries, goji berries, or cranberries (I used cranberries...Molly adds in pumpkin seeds).

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 250*
2. If you have to chop your nuts, do so first. (My almonds were already sliced, but we had to chop the walnuts a bit with a hand held chopper.) Combine all ingredients, except for dried fruit, in a large bowl and mix well. 
3. Place mixture on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (We did not line the baking sheet and all was well). 
4. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. 
5. Remove granola from oven and let cool. 
6. Once cooled, stir in dried fruit.

Store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks. (I had some in a baggy for 3 weeks and it still tasted delicious. Molly keeps hers in a baggy in the fridge and says hers has lasted for a month.)


YUM! I meant to bring my camera so I could take photos as we went along, but I forgot it. So you only get a photo of the finished product. 

We also made pita bread and hummus! Once I get with Molly on those recipes, I will post. 

What a super fun and delicious morning! I left with flour all over my shirt, a full belly, and a happy heart. 

With love,
Mama Hauck