When I had to change my diet, one of the things I had to start eating was oatmeal.  In the mornings, waiting on oats to cook just wasn’t possible and instant oatmeal had other things in it I didn’t want.  So, I’ve ended up going with granola.  At first, I added it my cereal.  Now, I add a little cereal, usually bran flakes, to my granola.  top it with some blueberries and a banana, maybe just a touch of honey, some milk, and you’re set.

Ingredients

8 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups wheat or oat bran or a combination of both

1 cup flax seed, ground (Use my Bullet, but a blender or chopper would work fine.)

1 cup sunflower seeds

*1 cup chopped almonds

*1 cup chopped pecans

*1 cup chopped walnuts

*I usually cut back on the nuts a bit and use a combination of pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, roasted soybeans, and cashew pieces.

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup crystallized brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup molasses (We use a combination of blackstrap and sorghum.)

1/4 cup maple syrup (can increase the amount of honey and molasses if you don’t have this.  Just make sure you have a cup altogether.)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extact

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Reduce to about 275 if you’re using a gas oven.  Line two large baking sheets with aluminum foil.

2.  Combine oats, bran, flax, and nuts in a large bowl.

3.  Stir together salt, brown sugar, syrup, honey, molasses, oil, cinnamon and vanilla in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over dry ingredients, and stir to coat.

4.  Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheets.

5.  Bake until crisp and toasted.  Takes about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through.  Cool, then stir in raisins, dates, or craisins, if you’d like before storing in an airtight container.