GRANOLA-TRAIL MIX.. GREAT AND EASY BASIC RECIPE

Everyone knows that granola is good for you, the problem is that buying store bought varieties one never knows what the amounts are in it..most of them lately are rolled oats, sugars, fats and very little else...so this weekend as we are experiencing another mini heatwave..it's been over 80F today and tomorrow is going to be even hotter, I am experimenting with some granola recipes..I prefer mine to include some dried fruit where possible, so here is a good basic recipe, that you might want to adapt to your own tastes. ( this way at least you will know what goes into it)

Makes approx 8 cups+ ( 4+ pounds)

1/4 cup vegetable oil ( lighter oil not olive, such as sunflower.safflower)..adjust it to suit, you may wish to add less oil, and more molasses etc.
1/2 cup molasses, honey, maple or agave
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract ( or almond,coconut or 2 tsp ground cinnamon, your choice)

2 cups rough chopped raw nuts, including unsweetened coconut flakes 
(if you have a nut allergy omit the nuts and add more fruit and seeds)
if using raw almonds please soak them overnight and rinse/drain before adding to granola mix
6 cups old fashioned rolled oats ( not instant/quick cook/pin head-steel cut)
1 cup raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup  raw *chia seeds (optional..will add fiber and are very filling  see below)
1 cup chopped   (chopped to the size of the nuts, or with larger sticky fruit, cut with scissors) Dried Fruit (any mix of  raisins, apricots, apples, cranberries, dates, prunes, bananas your choice)

before baking..all mixed together and ready for the oven

 
In a small pan heat the oil, molasses, and salt and stir in the flavoring..just heat slowly do not boil.
In a large bowl  mix well the oats, nuts, seeds and fruit, with a wooden spoon gradually drizzle in the warmed oil mix, and mix very well to coat everything. Spread the mix on 2 ungreased cookie sheets and bake in pre-heated 325f oven  for 30 mins ..stir and switch shelves after 20 mins.
Remove from oven and cool on the cookie sheets, stirring every 15 mins to prevent it forming into clumps.

When very cool, store in airtight container or seal able bags.




Uses: not just for breakfast although great with cold milk

served as a topping on  room temp yogurt

crumbled over ice cream

added as a topping to fresh berries

crumbled as trail mix for hikes

served as crumble topping for any hot  fruit crisp/crumble

Delicious with bananas and chocolate sauce with ice cream

The *chia seeds make every portion very filling (as they absorb in the stomach  100 times their weight in moisture) so use sparingly.