Easy Homemade Granola

When I made my resolutions at the beginning of the month, eating a healthy breakfast was high on my list.  My dear friend Stephanie read my post, and then sent me this recipe from the Leon restaurants in the UK.  I had never made homemade granola before, but I never knew it was this easy.  It is delicious on its own, but I also love to add it to Greek yogurt with some berries.  Just a little is very filling.  The best thing is you can change up some of the ingredients to suit whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients:

(note: the recipe I was given was all in the metric system, and these are my conversions)

3/4c honey

1/4 c sunflower or groundnut oil (I use canola)

1 3/4 c rolled oats

2/3 c bran

1c sunflower seeds

2/3 c hazelnuts (I have also used walnuts and almonds)

1c dates

2/3 c dried apricots (I have also thrown in dried mango)

2/3 c sultanas (these are golden raisins)

2/3 c wheatgerm

The How:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour the honey and oil into a pan and heat gently until the honey has melted.

In a bowl mix the oats, bran, and sunflower seeds, then pour the liquid honey mixture on top and mix well.

Spread out on a large baking tray.  Roast for 20-25 minutes, turning everything 3 or 4 times, then leave to cool.  Note: Do not bake this on wax paper.  I did the first time, and it all sticks together.  No bueno.

Meanwhile, roast the hazelnuts until golden brown, then roughly chop along with the dates and apricots.

Note 1:  If you need directions for roasting nuts, this is very helpful  

Note 2: You can really use any kind of nuts and dried fruit

Note 3:  You can buy nuts pre-chopped in the baking aisle, and dates pre-chopped in the dried fruit aisle

When cool, mix everything together with the wheatgerm and store in an air-tight container; lasts for about a month.

Eat alone, or with berries and yogurt.  I promise, you will not want to go back to the store-bought variety.

As always, I would love to hear from you if you make this recipe.  Enjoy!