Homemade Granola (Cheryl's Recipe)

Ingredients

• 3 cups dry oatmeal
• Melt ½ cup butter (or use coconut oil) and add the honey and salt and briefly heat with the butter or oil.
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup wheat germ (get at Sprouts)
• ½ shredded coconut (optional)
• Brown sugar, almonds, pecans, a bit of cinnamon sugar, dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions

1. First melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the honey and salt and briefly heat with the butter.
3. In a separate bowl mix together the oatmeal, wheat germ, flax seed, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon sugar, etc.
4. Turn off the heat and add the oatmeal, coconut, and wheat germ.
5. Stir until everything is coated evenly.
6. Pour the mixture onto a cookie sheet.
7. Spread the mixture out evenly on a lightly greased cookie sheet. At this point I usually pat down the mixture so it is firm and flat. This way the granola can be broken into larger pieces after it cools down.
8. Bake it at 375° for 10 minutes. Watch carefully. It will be a golden brown color.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool. I let mine cool on the baking sheet about 10 minutes. Then slide a metal spatula under the granola to loosen it from the bottom just a bit. Let cool about 30 minutes on the baking sheet then break into smaller pieces and store in an airtight container.
10. Store in an airtight container.

Ingredients:

3 1/2- cups uncooked old fashioned or quick oates

1/2 - cup coconut oil or butter (prefer coconut oil)

1/2 - cup honey

1/4 - cup light brown sugar

1 - teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 - teaspoon salt

1/8 - teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 - cup wheat germ

2 - tablespoons ground flax seed

1/2 - 3/4 - cup almond pieces

1/2 - 3/4 - cup pecan pieces

1/4 - cup sunflower seeds

1/2 - 3/4 - cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit

1/2 - cup raisins

Directions:

Melt the butter or coconut oil in a 3 - quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the honey and salt and briefly heat with the butter or coconut oil until foamy and bubbly.

In a separate bowl mix together the oatmeal, wheat germ, nuts, flax seed, brown sugar and cinnamon sugar. Turn off the heat add the vanilla extract and then add the oatmeal mixture. Stir until everything is coated. Pour the oatmeal mixture onto a lightly greased baking sheet.

Spread the mixture out evenly and pat down. Bake it at 375° for 10 minutes (watch carefully) It will be a golden brown color. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes using a spatula or flipper slide it under the granola to loosen it a bit so it does not stick. Let cool on the baking sheet about 30 minutes then break into pieces. Add the cranberries and raisins and store in an airtight container.