Kit’s Granola

I love granola.

It’s widely available now, but I still like to make my own.

The eating of the granola itself is satisfying, yes. But I often wonder if I enjoy the aroma that fills our home more than the actual eating of the granola. The combination of cinnamon, vanilla, nuts and seeds… creates an olfactory experience that would pretty much stop you on your track.

It’s joyful, this aroma.

I love eating granola with some coconut yogurt, and fresh berries.

But I also am known to just snack on it right out of the jar!

It’s a versatile recipe with ample opportunity for you to make it to your own liking (or with what you already have in your kitchen). You can substitute pretty much anything to really create YOUR granola.

Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the aroma. It helps you stop time.

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Kit’s Granola 

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup olive (or avocado) oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup crushed nuts (like walnuts, almonds, cashews)
• 1 cup seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)
• ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricot, mango, date, etc)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven at 350F
• Mix all ingredients in a big bowl, or in a stand mixer
• Pour and spread onto baking sheet
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until granola is nicely brown
• Let cool before storing in an airtight container. This keeps at room temperature for a week or so!