Granola, Granola Good for the Heart

Please don’t expect me to finish that little rhyme—if you’ve had granola you understand the digestive side effects.  But let’s talk about the health benefits!  The burst of energy to get you through the day!  The whole grains!  If you get hungry by 10 am you haven’t had a good enough breakfast and here’s just the thing to cure that:

Don’t buy it at the store, I beg of you.  As with most pre-made foods, it’s too expensive, less tasty, and less healthy.  And it’s really simple to make your own granola.  Ready?  Here we go:

8 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)

¾ cup honey

¾ cup vegetable oil

A few tablespoons of molasses (sure, try four, that sounds right)

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup smashed walnuts

A dash of vanilla

Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix up all of the above and spread it out on one large or two small baking sheets greased or lined with parchment.  I prefer the parchment because you can use it over and over.  Spread it out to a uniform thickness, preferably no more than 3/4” or it won’t dry out enough.  Bake it for forty minutes switching racks halfway through.  Let it cool down then break it up into pieces and store in an airtight container.  Want to mix in raisins?  Go right ahead.  How about M&Ms?  Fine.  How about gummi bears?  You’re pushing your luck.  Watch batteries?  No.