Homemade Granola!

We are HUGE granola fans in this house!  Graham especially, sometimes sending me out on a wild goose chase for his favourite granola from England...at $8 a box!  He doesn't have many things that he misses from England, so when he asks for this, I have no problem going out to get it for him! 

I have been making homemade granola since we have been together, and once and a while he remembers this, and asks me to make as much granola as I can fit in the oven at a time!  He eats it daily: with yogurt, milk, as dessert, you name it!  We even put chocolate chips in it sometimes and then sprinkle it on ice cream!  YUM!  He loves it when I make granola for him, as the stuff you buy in the store, usually has more sugar in one cup, than in your CHOCOLATE BAR of choice!  YIKES!

So, as Graham is a hard working man and I love him SO much, I have been making granola this week, in masses!  He is on the 2nd request for more, and batch #2 was made today, so I guess it was a hit!

Here are the photos, and if you'd like a recipe, let me know!

Raisins, Cranberries, Cherries, Pecans, Almonds, Coconut, Oats, Maple Syrup, Cinnamon etc!  OH MY!

As asked, here's the recipe!!!

4 cups of LARGE flake oats

1 cup All Bran cereal (this one- the original)

1 cup flaked unsweetened coconut

1 cup Pecans

1 cup sliced almonds (untoasted)

1/2 cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 cup Dried Cherries

1 cup JUMBO flame raisins (they don't dry out then)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup Canola/Vegetable oil (not olive, it will burn)

1/2 cup CANADIAN maple syrup

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1 Tsp Nutmeg

Mix all dry ingredients together in a VERY large bowl. 

Add oil and maple syrup and mix very well with hands, until all ingredients are wet and there are some "chunky/crunchy" bits.

Pour onto 2 lightly oiled, large baking sheets.

Bake in the oven for 45 mins at 325F, stirring and alternating shelves in the oven every 15 mins.

If you want something super yummy:  Add 1 cup of DARK chocolate chips when cool to one of the trays and eat with Ice Cream!

OPTIONS/SUBSTITUTIONS:  You can substitute honey for the maple syrup if needed.

You can substitute whole almonds for the pecans, but the pecans really make this!

You can substitute sultanas or regular raisins for the Jumbo raisins, but they will shrink slightly and will not be as chewy.

DO NOT substitute OLIVE OIL, as the granola will BURN easily.

ENJOY!  I don't think Graham will ever let me buy store bought granola again!