Yummy Granola

I've been meaning to use this as a "Works for me Wednesday" post, but Wednesday's don't seem to be working for me right now.

Here in Brazil, the traditional breakfast is rolls from the closest bakery with meat and cheese, and of course cafezinha, which is REALLY sweet and strong coffee. I love the breakfasts! But I do miss my cereal. The sad thing is, that the cereal selection here is very bad. The only unsweetened cereal they have is Corn Flakes. And they are super expensive!

So to try to mix things up a bit besides corn flakes one day and bread the next, I've been making granola. It is super yummy with fresh fruit in the morning. We also like to mix it in with our corn flakes. I found a good recipe I use that you can use as a "master" recipe and then add your own favorites to it.


Master Granola Recipe Makes 1 quart

Adjust oven rack to middle position, and heat oven to 275 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal pan with cooking spray, then set aside. Mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt and Extra Ingredients --except dried fruit -- in a bowl. Bring syrup, oil, water and any Flavoring indicated below to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle over oat mixture, and stir to combine. Pour mixture onto prepared pan. Working a handful at a time, squeeze cereal to form small clumps. Bake for 30 minutes. Stir in dried fruit. Continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let cool. (Granola can be stored in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.)

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 Tbs. dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup Extra Ingredients (see complete list below)
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 Tbs. flavorless oil, such as vegetable or canola
1 Tb. water
Flavoring

Extra ingredients can include: nuts, dried fruit, coconut, cereal, etc.
Flavoring can include any of your favorites: cinnimon, vanilla, pumpkin spice, ginger, etc.

*I use honey instead of maple syrup because we don't have syrup here and it's wonderful.

Hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do! It's definitely a nice change for us and hopefully you can save a few cents and make your own granola instead of buying it!