Drivin' Me Nuts Granola

This is my second granola recipe. I've adapted this one from one of Chef Michael Smith's. I think homemade granola is infinitely better than anything we can buy. Even more important? It's waaaaay cheaper to make it at home. In fact, if you have oats then you can probably whip  up a batch today with ingredients already in your cupboard. Nuts, dried fruit, a little oil, some form of sweetener - honey, maple syrup, or aguave syrup all work.

This version has maple and aguave syrups as well as pecans, almonds, bran and milled flax. The aroma while it baked was heavenly! Granola also makes a great hostess gift over the holidays and a little bit more healthy than a batch of cookies or box of chocolates (not that there is anything wrong with either of those!)

Ingredients
4 cups large flake oats
1/2 cup milled flax
1/2 cup wheat bran
1 cup pecan bits
1/2  chopped almonds
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup aguave syrup
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 cup dried cranberries

  

What to do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix in large bowl, oats, flax, bran, salt, pecans and almonds.
3. Heat the oil, both syrups, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a small sauce pan until quite warm/hot - NOT BOILING OR EVEN SIMMERING - just hot in order to bring out flavours.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Add oil mixture to dry ingredients and mix until well distributed.
6. Spread granola on large pan lined with a silpat.
7. Bake for 40 minutes but every 10 minutes remove from oven and stir granola to ensure even cooking and browning.
8. Cool completely after baking is complete.
9. Add cranberries.
10. Store in airtight container.
11. Enjoy!