Homemade Granola

We've wanted to make granola for a long time. We have been known to order $8 one lb. bags of Milk and Honey Granola from Chicago and of course Marc and D surrender at least a lb. or two every time we visit Taste in Indy. Even though those two midwest cafe's have some tasty granola, there is no granola like our home made granola. It is fucking delicious. And if you want some, just ask. I'll stop some by your crib (until I open a tea shop/breakfast place and you have to come buy it because I've gotten you addicted).

Recipe: (these are approximations, we just throw it together)
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut flakes
6 tbsp ground flax seeds
3/4 - 1 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup almonds (sliced)
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 large pinches of sea salt
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup canola oil
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
4-5 pinches of Love Street Living Foods 100% Raw Rare Vanilla Powder or 3-4 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 + cups dried fruit of your choice (cranberries, cherries, strawberries, apricots, mangoes, raisins, you choose)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet that has a rim with parchment paper (a large cake pan also works). Mix first seven ingredients together in a large bowl (I mix with a wooden spoon). Heat the next four ingredients on the stove on medium until you see little bubbles, stir constantly. Once you see bubbles, turn off heat. Pour the hot stuff on the stuff on the bowl. Mix it all together with that wooden spoon. If you don't splurge on Vanilla Powder, add the vanilla to the bowl last and mix it again. Once mixed, pour it on your baking sheet (sprinkle the Vanilla Powder on top) and put in the oven. You want to pull it out of the oven every 5-7 minutes to stir it like so:



After it gets to the desired browness (25-30 minutes), pull it out of the oven and sprinkle on your dried fruit. Mix it up and let it cool. Then eat and share!