Homemade Granola

One of the simplest ways to eat healthy, maintain your weight, or lose weight is eating a good breakfast.  Unfortunately, we've been trained to eat boxed cereals and/or Pop Tarts (Oh how I miss these!) as we rush out the door.  Not only do these not provide you with sustainable energy, but they are so sugary and mostly fake ingredients.  For the past 6 weeks, I've just eliminated cereals all together and been enjoying whole wheat banana pancakes or 2 eggs with whole wheat toast.  I have missed my bowl-and-spoon breakfasts, so I thought I'd try this 100 Days of Real Food granola.  I found all the ingredients I needed at Sprouts, but I'm sure you can find them at Whole Foods.  I haven't searched for these at my local Kroger, but it's possible you'd find them there as well.  I love that this recipe is versatile, so if you can't find something substitute it for another nut or seed or simply leave it out.  Let me know if you have any questions or if I can encourage you along your clean eating lifestyle :)  I hope you enjoy!  

INGREDIENTS

• 3½ cups rolled oats (if you want bars use steel cut oats so it will stick together better)
• 1 cup raw sliced almonds
• 1 cup raw cashew pieces (or walnuts or pecans)
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
• ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Also need – parchment paper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the dry oats, almonds, cashews, coconut, seeds and spices together in a large mixing bowl.
3. Heat the butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts stir in the vanilla and salt.
4. Pour the hot liquids over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
5. Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.
6. The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break into pieces (if making bars) or break it up into small chunks by pounding it in a zip lock bag (if making cereal). Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.