So I love nuts and berries and grains and all that stuff, but it can add up at the store.  Making granola can really help stretch those super foods in a delicious and healthy one-stop-shop. It’s also a great way to combine leftover ingredients from other recipes. As always, my “recipes” are to be taken as a suggestion tailored to my taste, so feel free to mess with it! I used what I had in my kitchen, but there are tons of nuts, dried fruits, and grains to use…

Here’s my recipe for making homemade granola:

Ingredients:

4 c. rolled oats (not instant)
2 c. chopped walnuts
1 1/2 c. dried cranberries
3/4 c. sunflower seeds (try to find unsalted, if unavailable, don’t add salt until tasting.)
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. maple syrup
1/4 c. canola oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cayenne (that’s where the sass comes from!)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt (less if using salted sunflower seeds.)

Preheat oven to 350º.  Combine oats, walnuts, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine honey, syrup, oil, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix until evenly distributed. Pour the mixture over a greased baking sheet and spread it out evenly.  Place in the oven and stir every 5-7min for 20 min.  You want it nice and golden brown, but not burned.  Remove the granola and let it cool, then add the cranberries.  Store in an air tight container and enjoy!

You can eat your granola with yogurt and berries,  milk for cereal, with ice cream or just by the handful.