Granola...a yummy anytime snack

This is the granola recipe I made for Christy's spa night, a couple weeks ago. The awesome thing about this recipe is that it can be modified depending on your taste for that day. I made mine with raisins, almonds, craisins and I added some honey. You can add any nut, dried fruit, etc. Be creative and have fun! There is nothing like a bowl of yogurt and granola to brighten your day. I got this recipe from an on-line USA today article which can be found at: http://www.usaweekend.com/06_issues/060226/060226cooksmart.html


The How To:


Master Granola Recipe Makes 1 quart
Adjust oven rack to middle position, and heat oven to 275 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal pan with cooking spray, then set aside. Mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt and Extra Ingredients --except dried fruit -- in a bowl. Bring syrup, oil, water and any Flavoring indicated below to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle over oat mixture, and stir to combine. Pour mixture onto prepared pan. Working a handful at a time, squeeze cereal to form small clumps. Bake for 30 minutes. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN...this has happened to me a couple times and I end up wasting an entire batch! Stir in dried fruit. Continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let cool. (Granola can be stored in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.) For nutrition information on each granola variation, go to usaweekend.com.



Ingredients


2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup wheat germ (I also like to add some flax seed)

2 Tbs. dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup Extra Ingredients (see complete list below)

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 Tbs. flavorless oil, such as vegetable or canola

1 Tb. water Flavoring (see below)

Varieties

1. Classic Granola Extra Ingredients: 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/3 cup dark or golden raisins Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon You can replace the 1/4 cup of maple syrup with 2 Tbs. each of maple syrup and molasses.


2. Crunchy Granola Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup slivered almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, 2 Tbs. sesame seeds, 6 Tbs. currants Flavoring: none


3. Granola with Tropical Flavoring Add the coconut along with the cashews and banana chips. Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted cashews, 1/4 cup chopped banana chips, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. ground ginger


4. Granola with Cherries and Almonds Extra Ingredients: 1/3 cup sliced almonds, 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/3 cup dried cherries Flavoring: 3/4 tsp. almond extract


5. Trail Mix Granola Extra Ingredients: 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted peanuts, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/4 cup dark or golden raisins, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips* Flavoring: none *Stir chips into the granola only after it has completely cooled.


6. Orange-Berry Granola with Pecans Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped pecans,1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup dried blueberries Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest


7. Pear Granola with Hazelnuts and Vanilla Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts, 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries, 1/4 cup chopped dried pears Flavoring: 1 tsp. vanilla extract


8. Orange-Flavored Granola with Pistachios, Mangoes and Dates Extra Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped roasted pistachios, 1/4 cup chopped dates, 1/4 cup chopped dried mangoes Flavoring: 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest and 1/4 tsp. allspice