Homemade Granola

I love breakfast.  Going out for brunch is one of my favorite indulgences.  I love staying in for breakfast too - enjoying a savory frittata or a perfectly pillow-y waffle in my pajamas is the perfect way to start out a lazy Sunday morning.  But during the week, I get into sort of a cold cereal rut.  With no time to make waffles or whip up a frittata, homemade granola is the perfect way to add a little weekend-indulgence to my work week breakfast routine.  I don't know why more people don't bother making it, it's super easy and making it yourself ensures that there isn't too much sugar/fat/junk hiding in there.  Plus, the flavor combinations are virtually endless and you can sneak in extra healthy stuff, like flax seed, if you're into that sort of thing.  My favorite combinations include pecans with dried cherries or cranberries or almonds with dried blueberries.  I guarantee it will make a busy Wednesday morning feel a little more like a lazy Sunday.

Simple Homemade Granola

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup roughly chopped nuts of your choosing
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
A few grates fresh nutmeg (or a pinch of the grated stuff)
1/3 cups honey
2 tablespoons canola oil (you could also use 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil)
1 cup dried fruit of your choosing

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  In a small saucepan, melt the honey and oil together, whisking until combined.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the oats, coconut, nuts, brown sugar, and spices.  Drizzle the warm honey mixture over the dry ingredients.  Stir until all the oats and nuts are coated in the honey mixture.  Spread the granola on a baking sheet, shaking it gently so that it forms a somewhat uniform layer.  Pop the granola in the oven and toast, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown, about 40 minutes total.  Once the granola is nice and toasty, remove it from the oven, sprinkle the dried fruit on top, and allow to cool completely.  

This week, it's pecans with Trader Joe's Orange-Flavored Dried Cranberries - Yum!

Once the granola is cool, scoop it up and store it in an airtight container.  Serve with milk, yogurt, or by the handful right off the baking sheet :)