Homemade Granola

Ever go to the grocery store looking for a good granola only to take home a box that looks really yummy on the outside but on the inside, it's half full of air and tastes like cardboard? Plus, it cost you about $5 in the process? Well, I sure have many times. If they're not over-processed and dull, they're over-priced. And it stinks because my kids LOVE granola and yogurt. And I love giving it to them for lunch because it's filling and good for them. But I don't love buying granola. I've been trying to find a solution to this problem for some time now because granola and yogurt is one of my go-to lunches.

So I had a thought last week. Why am I buying granola and wasting all this money on a sub-par product when I could just make my own? A quick google search pulled up tons of recipes for me and I quickly weeded out many of them because they had too many ingredients (that my kids wouldn't really want anyway!). I wanted to make a granola that could be made with ease from the stuff that I already stock in my pantry. This recipe is so simple and it's incredibly tasty.

Let me describe to you how easy it was to make. I had it made and in the oven in under ten minutes which included me getting out all of the ingredients and putting them away. During this time, the boys sat at the table eating lunch (and I ran interference with that while cooking) and Elliana decided she didn't like where I had put her and cried for most of the time. But I was able to get it in the oven before having to go get her. That's how fast and simple it was!! Does that convince you now?

Try it! It's economical, easy and excellent!

Homemade Granola
4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups raisins (or to taste; I used less-more economical and just as good)

Mix first four ingredients in large bowl. Heat up vegetable oil and honey until just starting to boil. Remove from heat and whisk together. Add vanilla. Pour hot syrup mixture over dry ingredients and make sure it is mixed very well. Spread onto a baking sheet/jelly roll pan and bake at 300 F for forty minutes. Stir well every ten minutes. Let cool completely on wire rack when done. Then stir in your raisins or anything else. You could add flax (add that in with dry ingredients) or any kind of dried fruit. Be creative. It stores one week at room temperature or a month in the freezer. For more complete instructions, visit the exact recipe here.