Make Your Own Granola; Impress Friends

Even if you are no culinary maven, you too can make your own granola. If you've ever looked at the nutrition information and did a double take at the calories then you might want to consider making your own and storing it in an airtight container. Takes no time at all and you can change the recipe depending on what ingredients you have on hand and what you're in the mood for. Plus it makes your whole house smell lovely, especially in the fall.

Crunchy Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

-3/4 cup vegan butter (margarine or other substitute, such as coconut oil)

-1 cup brown sugar

-1/3 cup water

-2 tbsp vanilla

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp nutmeg

-4 cups oats

-2 cups nut of choice (walnuts are my favorite)

-1 cup flaked coconut

-3/4 cup small nut pieces (I like to use a different nut here, like hazelnuts I've slammed around in a plastic ziplock bag or pulsed a little in the food processor)

Method:

Preheat oven to 300F.  Combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, water, and vanilla in a large saucepan and heat slowly until gently bubbling. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well (not with your hands.  It's hot.) 

Spread evenly on cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes, stirring around/flipping with a spatula every 15 minutes.  Watch to make sure nuts don't burn.

Turn off oven after 45 minutes and allow granola to stand until oven has cooled, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and allow granola to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.