SRC: Homemade Granola

This is my third round in the Secret Recipe Club, and I am really enjoying it.  It’s exposed so many other blogs to me that I would not have otherwise come across.  I thoroughly enjoy perusing over the blog I’m assigned every month.  It’s so much fun to see what types of recipes they enjoy, and learning about new foods, cultures and techniques.  This month I was assinged a blog called Veggie Wiz, which is a blog written by Apeksha, who is from India, and enjoys vegetarian cuisine.

Apeksha had many recipes that looked amazing, and I have bookmarked many of them to try in the future.  The recipe I decided to make for the Secret Recipe Club reveal was simple, yet something I’ve been wanting to make for quite some time, homemade granola.  I am so glad that I came across this recipe for the challenge, because I finally had some motivation to make it.  Not that you really need motivation to make homemade granola, or a lot of time for that matter.  It has just been one of those things that has gotten pushed further and further down on my list of things to make.  Well, I finally got around to making it and I’m so glad!

This granola was incredibly easy to make, quick to put together, and delicious.  This recipe uses quick cooking oats, rather than the rolled oats which cuts down the cooking time drastically.  I love the idea of making homemade granola, because it can be customized to suit your taste; add more fruit, less fruit, chocolate or whatever your heart desires.  Granola is so versatile; it can be enjoyed alone as a snack, on yogurt, fruit or whatever else you can dream up.  Your imagination is your limit!   

Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

2 Cups instant oats
1/2 Cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1/2 Cup almonds, chopped
3 Tbsp raisins
1/4 Cup dried cranberries
1/4 Cup dried apricots, roughly chopped
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1 Tsp cinnamon
1/4 Tsp salt
1 Tsp vanilla
1/4 Cup honey
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 

Place oats, walnuts and almonds in a large bowl and stir to combine.  Add the salt, sugar and cinnamon and stir again to combine.

Pour the honey and vegetable oil in a small saucepan and place over low-medium heat.  Stir occassionally, until the mixture has thinned and come together.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.  Pour the heated mixture over the oat mixture and toss to combine and coate.  Spread the coated oat mixture evenly onto the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, tossing/stirring the mixture every 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and add the raisins, cranberries, and apricots and toss to combine.  Allow granola to cool for an hour, store in an airtight container.

Recipe source: slightly adapted from Veggie Wiz