Homeade Granola

I know this isn't using any ingredients from the CSA, but it's a great homemade alternative to paying $4 for a small box of cereal.* I buy the oats, wheat, and nuts in bulk from Whole Foods.

Nothing could be better on a gray, rainy morning than to smell fresh, hot granola baking in the oven. You know exactly what's in it (no preservatives, etc.) and if you're cooking for a toddler with food allergies, as I do, you know it's safe.

Homemade Granola

7 cups oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup wheat bran (or substitute rye flakes)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water (or substitute orange or apple juice)
1 TBS vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped dates (or substitute raisins, dried cranberries, etc.)
1 Cup chopped pecans (or any other nut - for my food allergy kid, I use almonds)

Preheat oven to 275. In large bowl, combine oats, wheat germ and bran. In medium bowl, blend brown sugar through water. Add vanilla through salt. Stir sugar mixture into oats until evenly moistened. Pour into large, shallow baking dish (I use an 11x14 pan). Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until lightly brown. Mix fruit and nuts into dish and continue baking for 15 minutes.

Cool and store in airtight container.

Makes 10 cups.

Enjoy!

*This cost me as follows:

$1.41 for sliced almonds
$1.88 for rolled oats
$0.39 for rye flakes
(The rest I had in my cupboard)
Total: $3.68

Better cost than the grocery store, more quantity, better quality.