Granola

Granola (noun): a breakfast food consisting of rolled oats, brown sugar, nuts, driedfruit, etc., usually served with milk. Granola (noun): a person who enjoys nature, living free, and not showering more than necessary. Which definition do you like better? Which definition did I get off of dictionary.com? If you guessed the first, you are correct, but if you are about my age you remember that in high school there was a group of people that we referred to as the "granola's", kindof sub-par hippies I guess. And I am willing to bet that these so called "granola's", liked to eat granola. 

What does this have to do with this recipe? Absolutely nothing, just thinking about the two words, and wondering if a person is described as a "granola" and is eating granola, what does that make them? Hmmm....I'm just sayin'

Anyways, I got this recipe from a family member. Now I actually loved her ingredients, including almonds and coconut. However, I didn't have almonds in the pantry and you know I can only use coconut on a rare occasion as my husband snubs coconut. So, I actually made a batch of this stuff based on her recipe, which turned out really well; in fact I am having some now with yogurt. Below I have decided to include her ingredient list as well as my own. But like the correct definition of granola states it is a food with rolled oats, brown sugar, nuts, driedfruit, etc. So take the "etc" to mean, put in whatever you want and it will likely turn out wonderful.

Granola

Recipe from Lynda C.

Pictures by Caroline

Lynda's recipe

6 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup raisins

Caroline's adaptation

6 cups oats

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 honey

1 tsp vanilla

dash salt
1 cup raisins

Directions

1. Mix together rolled oats, wheat germ, shelled sunflower seeds, shredded coconut and chopped almonds in a large mixing bowl and set aside.  
2. Heat vegetable oil, brown sugar and honey in a small sauce pan. Add to it 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. salt when heated.  
3. Pour hot liquids over rolled oat mixture, tossing to coat lightly.  Spread evenly on two lightly greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 275 degrees for 30 minutes.  
4. When cooled, add raisins and store in tightly covered container.  Makes about 3/4 of a large plastic ice cream bucket.  Recipe can be halved.