Trying To Make An Entrance (Homemade Granola)

My husband came home a little excited, "It almost feels like fall", he exclaimed as he walked through the door.   The temperature has thankfully (and finally) taken a break from the triple digits.  There is light rain and cooler weather and all I can do is hope for a change in pattern.

It seems as if I've been suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), except there are no grey skies and months worth of snow on the ground, only a bright sun, dried up grass and dead trees.  It has been months of dry, hot weather and I am done with it.

Today though, seemed different.  On my drive to the Baking Tot's school it was still a little dark and the ceiling was low, almost giving the effect of fog.  The sun had not peeked over the horizon but the light available made everything blue.  I could see the layers of the hill country and I kicked myself for not having a camera.

When fall arrives it seems like I crave cinnamon and cranberries.  The Baking Tot and I are both obsessed with Homemade Granola.  Its spiced with cinnamon, sweetened with brown sugar and honey and tossed with almonds.  We usually eat it right out of the jar-plain, but I do enjoy it with milk in the morning-it is so addicting I find myself making at least one batch a week.

Easy Homemade Granola

from: Baked: New Frontiers in Baking
 

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

¼  cup honey

¼  cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3  cup whole almonds

1/3 cup whole hazelnuts (in a pinch when hazelnuts are unavailable, I substitute with more almonds)

1/3 cup golden raisins

1/3 cup dried cherries

1.     Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.     In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt.

3.     In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.  Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them: Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture.

4.     Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture.

5.     Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

6.     Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

7.     Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely. Sprinkle the raisins and cherries over the granola and toss with hands

8.     Store in an airtight container, granola will keep for 1 week…if it even sticks around that long! :)