Granola

Every week I pick at least one or two things to try in the kitchen. I love to cook when I have the time {preferably without a child trying to scale my leg} and I love trying new and different things in the kitchen. In fact, the highlight of my week was sitting on the kitchen floor watching pita bread bake. The way it goes from a flat sheet of dough to a puffy pocket feels just like a mesmerizing magic show. I made it... but I don't know why it puffs with a perfect little pocket like that... and that is just so interesting and fun to me. Not to mention, delicious!

Today however, was for granola. I have never found a store-bought granola that I like and the ones I've bought at farmers markets are so expensive and I always either feel like they are too sweet or are missing something. So I looked up a bunch of granola recipes and still not satisfied with anything I found, I mixed and matched from different recipes and from what I know I like in my granola, and made up my own mix. It turned out delicious, which is a good thing because it made a TON so we will be eating this for awhile, like it or not!

So here is my favorite {i.e. "only"} granola recipe:

6 cups rolled oats
2 cups wheat germ
1 cup sunflower seeds (out of shells)
1 cup sliced almonds
1.5 cups finely chopped pecans
2.5 cups coconut flakes

Mix in a large bowl

1.5 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup canola oil
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Combine in a small saucepan and heat to a boil. Remove from heat, pour over oat mixture and mix well. Spread mix on 2 large cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes until browned stirring after 10 minutes. Let cool and store in an air tight container.

Add 2 cups of craisins if you like. I like the craisins if I'm eating this like cereal or with greek yogurt, but I don't want them when I use this to top smoothies or acai bowls {which is the whole reason I decided to make this today- I have a craving for an acai bowl!} so I leave out the craisins initially and just add them to individual servings if I want them.

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Since I know you're all dying to make pita bread now too after my ravings about the culinary magic, you can find that recipe here.