“granola”:
A tree hugging, free spirited hippie minus all the drugs.
That was a pretty good definition of me.
Which is why when in the midst of making granola today, I couldn’t help but have the best laugh…
Because my laughs are naturally gluten free.
and yet, here I am.
Being Celiac has weird advantages, funny enough. Since I have to read the ingredient list for every food item I buy, I get to see exactly what is put into the packaged food. Most of the time it isn’t “end of the world” stuff. But one thing I look for in particular is “Genetically Engineered” food.
It’s a little conspiratorial…but I’m just saying it’s a little too much for me. Because I’m granola.
So, there is no harm in making my own granola!
Here’s What’chu Do:
- 8 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup finely chopped almonds
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cups of raisins or craisins
-
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Here Ya Go
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment or a liner.
- Take the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl and mix together.
- Then, stir the honey, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour this over the oat mixture and fold until the oats are thoroughly coated.
- Spread the mixture in a thin (thin) layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir…you are going to have to stay in the room and keep stirring every 15 minutes until it’s done, which should be about 30-40 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool until the granola is room temperature…Then add the craisins. But keep stirring it every so often, it’ll get hard as it cools.
- When the granola has fully cooled, and after you have had an incredible test bowl, put it into a container with a lid…it’s good for 2 weeks. I really doubt it will last that long.
Illustrated Directions!
First, stir together all the dry ingredients.I used my KitchenAid, because it’s not arm day today.This worked pretty well, but if you turn away to help the kids with a writing assignment for 2 minutes, you’re going to come back to oatmeal on your counter.
Next, stir in the vanilla, honey and oil.I would work this in batches, otherwise you are going to get sticky oatmeal on your counters.
Now, spread the granola thinly onto a covered cookie sheet. I sprayed PAM on the sheet, because you don’t want to mess around with baking oatmeal.
Bake at 325F for 15 minutes…then stir…then bake for another 15 minutes…then stir…then another 10 minutes….
Then you’re done! 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Now you can add the cranberries, and eat with gusto!!
fiveintheforest 