Granola

I've never shared a recipe via a post on my blog, but I thought it would be unfair to keep this granola yumminess from you for much longer.  This particular recipe was a great favourite with my friends back in Missouri; in fact, there were several times when I would simply put out a huge bowl of it with several spoons and watch as the granola was simply demolished (yes, James and Clemma, I'm talking about you).  I whipped up a batch over the weekend and have been enjoying it for breakfast and sometimes a snack as well over the past few days.  The granola is really easy to make; I think you will enjoy it!

Here's what you'll need:

4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
2 cups sliced almonds
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup dried cranberries

1) Preheat your oven to 250.  Toss the oats, coconut, and almonds together in a large bowl. 

2) Whisk together the oil, honey, and syrup in a small bowl. 

3) Pour the liquid mixture over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well-coated. 

4) Pour onto a sheet pan; I actually bake mine in a 9x13 baking dish because I find my granola often falls off the sheet pan (I'm a messy cook).  If you use a baking dish like me, you usually need to bake it a little longer than normal.

5) Bake for one hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and transfer the granola to a bowl.  Let it cool and then add your cranberries, cherries, and whatever else you might want to throw in there!

Doesn't that just look yummy?  You can eat it alone or even as cereal with milk!