Homemade Granola

So I’ve finally “perfected” my granola recipe – or at least it tastes good to me.  🙂  Granola is an item @ the grocery store that can really bang you up on price.  Making it yourself not only saves you money but it tastes fresher and you know exactly what the ingredients are.  I based my recipe off of a granola bar recipe off of Naturally Knocked Up .  I think it’s very easy to make and takes hardly any time.  I whipped up a batch while making dinner last night.

4 cups of whole oats

Toast these at 450 for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are toasty brown.  Set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt together:
4 tbs. of butter (we use Smart Balance Butter Blends)
1/2 tsp. of sea salt
1/3 cup of honey
1 T of brown sugar
1 tsp of vanilla.

Let mixture bubble and thicken but not harden.  Fold in oats and cover completely.  Keep stirring and stirring!  🙂  Pour mixture onto greased or wax paper surface to cool (I usually put mine in a 9×13 pan).  After it cools slightly, break apart using a turner.  Store in an airtight container (or a ziploc).

Variations:  Use only 3 1/2 cups of oats and 1/2 cup of nuts of your choice (I tried both pecans and slivered almonds).  Toast them with the oats.  Add in any dried fruits that you so desire.  Add flax to the mix for some nutrient punch.  🙂  I also used a square of Ghirdella Dark Chocolate (72%) instead of the brown sugar on one of the batches and it made a delightful dark chocolate granola.

Eat with fresh fruits or yogurt.  What a yummy treat!