I’ve had a pretty impressive run so far this holiday season of decadent meals and sweet treats – preparing, posting, and eating. Time to switch gears to something a bit more on the healthy side but still yummy – homemade granola. I made a batch of this over the weekend to round out some teachers’ gifts and my last round of Secret Santa at the office, and have been enjoying the remaining part of the batch for snacking throughout the first part of the week.
What is it about a Mason jar that makes such a cute presentation? For my Secret Santa gift I added a paper napkin and ribbon for an extra holiday touch.
Reality Check. If I like a granola (as I do this one) I quickly negate the healthy aspects by having three bowls in quick succession. But I have to believe it’s better for me than a third cookie. Or third helping of egg bake.
Recipe
Homemade Granola
6 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds (kernels)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Mix the above ingredients together and place in a lightly greased 9×13 inch pan.
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix together oil and honey in a saucepan until the mixture just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture. Stir until the oat mixture is well coated. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven and stir the mixture well so that the browning will be uniform. Put the pan back in the oven and continue this process until you achieve the desired crunch. Total browning time should not be more than 30 minutes. Just after baking top with a sprinkling of raw sugar. Cool to room temperature. Mix in dried cranberries or cherries, or raisins. Store in an airtight container.
