Granola Granola

Once you've tried this homemade stuff, there's no going back to the store-bought kind. It's just fresher, more flavorful and healthier. Though I can't claim credit for the recipe. My friend from Chicago, Ramona, first introduced this to me...and I've pretty much been making it like a madwoman ever since.

Ramona's Granola Recipe

Ingredients:
6 cups of oatmeal
3 cups coconut (unsweetened) (I like the big flakes, but shredded is okay too)
1 cup raw sunflower seeds (unsalted)

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup slivered almonds

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup oil

1 cup water

1 cup raisins (or dried cranberries or dried fruit of your choice)

1/2 cup flaxseed

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients: oatmeal, coconut, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, slivered almonds and cinnamon in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients: honey, oil, water. Then mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Spread evenly into two 9x13 baking pans. Bake at 250 degrees for approximately 2 hours, until oats are golden brown and dry. Stir occassionally. Once done, let cool off. Then mix in raisins and flaxseed.

And that's it. It's great as a snack on its own, or with vanilla yogurt, or with some milk for breakfast. Enjoy!