I hate it when I find just the right shade of lipstick and you are standing at the cosmetic counter glaring at the salesperson as they say to you with a smile “Sorry, but the color has been discontinued.” What? Tell me you are kidding? It has been brought to my attention many times that I should buy two of everything that I love. You know that special t-shirt, sweater, jeans, and the list goes on. So you know where this is going. I am a granola girl. I love it with cold skim milk in the morning, for a snack, or dinner. More than once or twice I have fallen for a certain brand and out of no where production of this wonderful product stops. No one calls me. No one asked my opinion. It just stops appearing on the shelf. It’s sad. Now I’m doing what I should have done a long time ago and I am making my granola. Well, really it’s not mine but thanks to Katie Workman I can have my favorite granola anytime I want it. So can you and you will love it!
At my school a couple of weeks ago the media center had their annual book fair and I purchased this fabulous cookbook. I loved just sitting and reading it. I have made three recipes and they all three have been hits. I am sure that I will be sharing more with you in the future. Now about this granola. It is super easy and so good. You can change the type of nuts or leave them out as well as the fruit. I added dried pineapple, apricots, blueberries with pecans. I am looking forward to adding tart red cherries into my next batch. I love this with milk, but it is great as a snack plain. It can be a great addition to yogurt or sprinkled on top of fresh fruit for a different texture. The best thing about making your own granola is knowing that you can control the sugar , fat and preservatives serving a more wholesome dish for your family.
Crunchy Chewy Granola from Katie Workman
Yield 6 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 4 cup old-fashioned oats ( do not use quick cooking oats)
- 1 cup chopped unsalted nuts such as walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, or almonds
- 2 cups mixed chopped dried fruit such as apricots, cherries, blueberries, cranberries or raisins
Directions:
- Preheat oven 275 degrees.
- Place honey, maple syrup, egg whites, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and orange zest in a large bowl and mix until well blended.
- Take out 1/2 cup of the mixture and place in a medium bowl.
- Add the oats and nuts to the large bowl. and mix with a spoon until everything is well combined and coated.
- Add the dried fruit to the medium bowl with 1/2 cup of the honey mixture. Set aside.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in a thin even layer.
- Bake the oat mixture for 30 minutes.
- Add the dried fruit to the oat mixture and stir well.
- Spread out evenly in the pan.
- Press flat with your hands or place another pan on top and press.
- Bake the granola until the oats are golden brown and crunchy, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir once halfway through baking time. LEAVE SOME CLUMPS WHICH IS THE BEST PART!
- Cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack.
- Store in an airtight container for about 3 weeks if it lasts that long!
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The Teacher Cooks 
Looks divine! I put in 1/4 c honey to 1/2 c oil to 12 c oats etc… – no clumps – and they are delicious – but the small seeds to stick to the almonds and the oats and it is still very yummy! Nothing like homemade! (mine is posted, too and they look similar)
You can switch out ingredients for a different flavor.
I learned that you could add a zest of some kind, usually orange though but any could work for your individual taste.
I learned tha Granola can be a healthy snack!
i learned in order to make it chewy you have to add maple syrup.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
how the fruit and the granola make a good combintion.
I learned that you can store it for up to three weeks.
i like how the cruch and the fruit combined togther to make a great taste
This looks good to eat
I learned that if you store the granola in an airtight container it can last for about 3 weeks.
looke great but never tasted it before
This would be great at a party, using honey helps the granola to stick better.
making you own granola makes you the person adding extras such as sugar and other fruits
it is better to use the old fashion oats instead of the quick ones
I learned that you need to bake the granola until the oats are crunchy and a golden brown color.
i learned that honey helps the granola stick together.
You use orange zest in it.
I Did Not Know That When You Make Granola You Should Toast It To Make It Them Golden Brown
leave clumps in mix
DO NOT use quick cooking oats when cooking this granola bar
Make sure you leave clumps in the mix.
i learned that leaving clumps is the best part.
I learned that if you store this in an airtight container, it should last up to 3 weeks.
Looks okay!
I didn’t put them in without preheating them and they burned so preheating is really important
I looks great i never had granola before so i can’t say much about it
i had no idea you could make your own granola!
I learned adding honey or syrup helps it stick together better