Granola

This is supposed to be a ‘light’ recipe. It makes A LOT so you may want to cut recipe in half. Also, I find it a tad too sweet so I reduce the brown sugar just a bit.


1 cup brown sugar (I shoot for a little over ¾ cup)
1/4  cup water
4 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
8 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
2 cups nuts and/or dried fruit (if desired)

Preheat oven to 275. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Mix sugar & water in glass measure cup & microwave 5 minutes til sugar dissolves. Mix well. Add vanilla and salt to mixture. Combine all with oats & nuts (if using) in large bowl. Spread out on the cookie sheets as thinly as possible. Cook 45 minutes to 1 hour, til golden & crunchy but still pliable. Let cook, add dry fruit if desired. Store in tightly sealed glass jars. This is excellent on yogurt.

*you can use just about any nut or fruit you wish but remember, this adds alot to the cost of the granola.I generally let everyone add IF they want at the time of eating, not at the time of baking, then it becomes more like a topping.
*Try almond instead of vanilla, IF you like the flavor of almond