Emily’s Granola

One of my good friends, Minnemie, taught me this recipe while sitting around the table in her cozy little kitchen.  I have changed it a little bit, but it is mostly the same recipe that she gave me.  If any of you know Ironman, you know that he eats A TON of food.  So, the only thing that keeps him full from breakfast until lunch is a huge bowl of homemade granola with rice milk and a banana...and coffee...don't forget the coffee!  I make this recipe just about every two weeks to keep his supply stocked.  

I had always thought that homemade granola would be the hardest thing to ever make, but it is actually very easy!  Feel free to use my recipe and change the ingredients to make the recipe into what your taste buds prefer.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

(Scroll to the bottom for recipe)

First, I pour the entire canister of oats into a big container.  I like to do this in the storage container that I keep it in once it’s baked and cooled.  I add a bag of sliced almonds, a bag of chopped walnuts and a lot of cinnamon.  A lot of cinnamon. You can use different nuts, like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, and you don't have to add cinnamon...it's your granola!  Try whatever nuts and spices that you want to get the right texture and flavor. I mix all of the dry ingredients.  Then, I pour one cup of melted coconut oil (you can also use canola oil) over the dry ingredients.  And then one cup of honey over that.  

When all of the honey and coconut oil have been mixed in, the granola should look something like this.    It actually can wear your arms out mixing this well, so it is a good time to ask a man (aka Ironman) to do the hard work.  

Now it's time to cook your granola.  I put mine on two large cookie sheets and cook it for 30 minutes, stirring it every 10 minutes.  Try to keep the granola away from the edges because it tends to burn it.  If you want to add raisins, craisins, dried wild blueberries, or something like it, pour them on top of the granola for the last 10 minutes.  If they sit on the granola the full 30 minutes, they end up bursting open and burning.

Once the granola is done cooking and cooling, you should store it in a large container in the freezer.  Then, if you have a husband that eats as much as mine, you will do this all over again in two weeks!!!

Homemade Granola:

1 canister oats

1 bag sliced almonds

1 bag chopped walnuts

cinnamon (I don't measure...)

1 cup melted coconut oil

1 cup honey

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all dry ingredients

Pour in melted coconut oil and honey and mix with dry ingredients

Cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes

Cool and store in freezer

Enjoy!