This recipe goes way back to my uncle Jethro’s hippie youth. Don’t ask me how granola fits into the whole “free love” philosophy of your average hippie… but it does; and I am not one to start arguing with the forty year old mantra of peace, love and rock and roll. This recipe is incredibly easy to change and manipulate to taste after you get it down and makes a great gift during Christmas time or whenever you give gifts of food.

Ingredients

• 2 cups oats
• ½ cup crushed walnuts
• ½ cup crushed peanuts
• 1 cup diced almonds
• ½ cup coconut
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup canola oil
• ½ cup dried fruit
• ½ cup raisins

Preparation

The first step is to mix everything except the dried fruit and raisins into a large bowl and stir it around. Make sure you use old fashioned oats and not quick oats. After everything is mixed together well, put it into a baking tray or sheet. Bake at 300 degrees. While it’s baking make sure to stir it around a little so it doesn’t stick to the tray. After it’s turned golden brown, put it back in the bowl and mix in the raisins and dried fruit. You can use anything you like here; cranberries, apricots and apples are my favorite.

Bake the granola for another 5 to 10 minutes and then your done! Any of the nuts used can be substituted for others; cashews, hazelnuts and pecans are others I like to use. If you want your granola to clump together more use more oil.

Granola is a great way to start off the day. I especially like it because its filling and I don’t have to worry about lunch until well into the afternoon.