Breakfast, anyone?

Hello everyone! You are in for a real treat (in more than one way). This post is contributed by my very talented Registered Dietitan sister Susanne, so sit back and enjoy her wisdom! If we're lucky, we'll get more posts from her later!

Granola. Another word for goulash or gorp! With winter coming to a close, I have been using up my stores of both frozen and pantry foods, making room for the fresh foods of spring and summer! One of our favorite breakfasts and snacks is yogurt. After hitting a great yogurt sale last week, I decided it was time to make granola to round out yogurt breakfasts. First off, here's a tip for you to save money and calories. Buy the 32 oz. size of plain yogurt and customize your flavor. My kids prefer a spoonful of strawberry jam mixed in to make strawberry. You can also use honey, blueberry, raspberry or peach jams. The sky's the limit! I prefer to skip the flavors and add fresh fruit and a pinch of sugar along with granola of course. Here is the recipe I use, passed down from my mother. The great thing about this recipe is the adaptability of it! You can substitute just about anything (and clean out your cabinets while you are at it) and it will taste great! Warning - this recipe makes a ton, I often half it. Other uses for granola- should this recipe make too much for just yogurt- include topping for ice cream, cereal (just add milk), topping for fruit and straight up as a snack. Enjoy!
Granola
2 cups whole wheat flour (or all purpose or whole wheat pastry flour)
6 cups oats
1 cup coconut
1 cup wheat germ (here I substituted some of the wheat germ for ground flaxseed I needed to use up)

Mix these ingredients together and set aside

1/2 cup water
1 cup oil (may substitute part of the oil with orange juice)
1 cup syrup (may use pancake syrup, honey, maple syrup, 1/2 cup of water and 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, or corn syrup)
1 Tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
cinnamon to taste

Combine these ingredients and then mix with the dry ingredients above.

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet (or 2 ) sprayed with cooking spray and bake at 300 degrees until firm (about 40 minutes). Turn off oven and let the granola stay in there until the oven cools. It will harden to the perfect consistency.

*Fun things to throw in after granola cools: dates, raisens, banana chips, dried strawberries, craisens,almonds, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds - whatever you have on hand!

Notice how little granola is left- this is a common problem around here!