My Best Granola Yet

Now....remember how I made it....and all of the ingredients....wish me luck!

Ingredients (for a huge batch)
8 cups whole oats (or you can use half whole half quick)
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup ground flax seed
2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
1 1/2 cups seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, poppy....)
3/4 cup olive oil
1 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 TBSP vanilla
1 TBSP almond extract
2-3 TBSP cinnamon to preference
MIX DRY TOGETHER (1st 6 ingredients). MIX WET TOGETHER ON STOVE TOP TIL BLENDED. MIX BOTH TOGETHER IN A HUGE BOWL UNTIL ALL IS MOIST. BAKE 325 FOR 20-30 MINUTES STIRRING EVERY 10 MINUTES UNTIL NUTS AND OATS ARE TOASTED. PLACE BACK INTO HUGE BOWL....

THEN ADD....YOUR FRUITS TO YOUR LIKING. HERE'S AN IDEA OF SOME. ADJUST THE COMBO AS YOUR FAMILY LIKES. TOTAL SHOULD BE AT LEAST 4 CUPS OF THE FRUIT.
1 cup dates
1 cup raisins
1 cup craisins
1 cup dehydrated blueberries
1 cup chopped, dehydrated apples
1 cup dried pineapple chunks, chopped small
1 cup dried mango, chopped small
1 cup dried strawberries, chopped small

MIX FRUIT INTO YOUR TAOSTED OATS MIXTURE.

Combine on stovetop then pour into combined mixture.
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup water
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

ONCE ALL COMBINED, PLACE BACK ONTO COOKIE SHEETS AND BAKE AT 275 FOR 45 MINUTES. STIR EVERY 10-15 MINUTES. GRANOLA SHOULD BE MOSTLY DRY, BUT WITH A HINT OF MOISTURE. AT THE END IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE 1 BIG GRANOLA BAR.
SET OUT TO COOL FOR 15 MINUTES THEN CRUMBLE INTO BITE SIZE PIECES OR CUT INTO BARS. GRANOLA CEREAL NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN A SEALED CONTAINER. GRANOLE BARS DO BEST IN INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC BAGS.


HAPPY AND HEALTHY EATING!!!