Granola

Well, happy soggy Monday (almost Tuesday) to all y’all.

And, thanks so much, those of y’all who commented and told me about your favorite Christmas treats. I think that I’ll make one savory and one sweet treat to put in each package. I’m also trying out a homemade cherry cordial recipe. It’s going to be a challenge, I know, to not eat every single one of them. What could be bad about cherries infused with creme de cacao covered with a sugar mixture and then coated with chocolate? That’s right, nothing.

Oh, and Jessie, I think that we need that brownie recipe you mentioned in the comments. Pretty please?

But I’m getting away from what I wanted to do which was give you this recipe for granola. I’ve been making quite a bit of it lately (this sweet man brought me some delicious yogurt that just needed some granola…thanks, sweet yogurt delivery man!) and thought that I’d share with y’all. Granola is one of those things that is so, so much better if homemade. And, since there are all kinds of special purchase items at Aldi right now because of the holidays, this recipe is also Aldivore.

Hey, Aldi, do you need a spokeswoman? Yes? Call me…

This granola is so adaptable. Switching out the walnuts with cashews and the cinnamon with ginger is a nice version, too. Just throw together your own version — it’ll be great!

Granola

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 t. salt
3/4 cup walnuts or pecans
3/4 cup coconut
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup honey
3 T. oil
2 T. water
1/2 t. cinnamon

Oven at 275 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13. Mix oats, salt and extra ingredients (except fruit) in a medium bowl. Mix the honey, oil, water and cinnamon in a microwave safe cup and zap it in the microwave until the honey is happy and bubbly (45 seconds or so, depending on your microwave). Drizzle it over the dry ingredients and stir to distribute the oil/honey mixture. Bake 30 minutes and then stir. Continue baking until desired doneness. Stir the fruit into the hot granola. Keeps 1 month. Actually, the keep time is an assumption since mine never lasts longer than a week.

Happy eating!