Basic Granola

This is the granola recipe I have used since Mariel was a baby. You can add nuts, seeds, raisins, or other goodies to it. I also sometimes add a little brown sugar (2 tablespoons).

8 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups wheat germ (you can leave this out if you don't have it)
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2/3 cup canola oil
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons vanilla

(Oven 300')

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Pour wet ingredients into a small saucepan and heat on medium-low until the honey melts.
3. Mix wet and dry ingredients in the large bowl.
4. Spread granola in a thin layer onto rimmed cookie sheets (I use the bottom halves of broiler pans). This recipe will fill two to three rimmed cookie sheets.
5. Put cookie sheets into the oven for ten minutes.
6. Take out cookie sheets and stir granola, then put them back in the oven for ten minutes.
7. Go on like this (taking the pans out, stirring, and putting them back) until the granola is toasted (it will be crunchy rather than soft). It usually takes 30-40 minutes total to toast.

This is cheaper than boxed cereal, and my kids enjoy it just as much. It has been toast or oatmeal for breakfast (with fruit and the occasional egg) around here for awhile, and they are ready for a change!