Mid-morning and midnight are the times when those sweet/crunchy cravings often kick in for me. However, going straight for the expensive granola bars meant for work or the cookies waiting for the bake sale are probably not my best choices... I love this recipe because it is filling, healthy, delicious, and very inexpensive.
Props to "The Amateur Gourmet", on whose site I found the original recipe of this great any-time-of-the-day snack! I {as per usual} altered a few things, but if you try this, be creative!! There are endless ways to spice up plain old granola!
Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Toss oats, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Pour oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla directly on top of oat mixture. Now, {this is the fun part!} use your hands to combine all ingredients.
The original recipe suggested making fists in the mixture and releasing to fully coat the oats and create nice little balls of granola mixture. Cover a medium baking sheet with tin foil or wax paper. Spread granola evenly over baking sheet.
Bake for ten minutes. Using spatula, turn granola over itself so it may bake evenly. Bake for another ten minutes. Turn the granola once more. Bake for twelve minutes this time. Allow at least an hour for cooling before enjoying. The granola should bake for about 32 minutes and be turned twice.
I love granola over yogurt, fresh fruit, smoothies, and even just by itself with some skim milk. This homemade granola is such a versatile recipe. My husband prefers granola plain, but I love adding dried cranberries, almonds, and other goodies into the mix. Be creative! Try using hazelnuts, golden raisins, dried cherries or apricots, pecans, or even other kinds of cereal!
Most of all, just enjoy...with life.
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