I love

Granola.

I'm a fan of chewy granola bars and loose granola to pour over my yogurt, or just eat plain. But my favorite, my absolute favorite, is the clumpy, chewy granola like addicting granola (<-- That's a link to a wonderful store in Michigan that sells it). So today, I began the process of creating my own granola. This is the skeleton recipe which I am sharing with you. It is no way shape or form perfected. But my next Trader Joe's trip has an assortment of dry fruit and flavored flax with my name all over it! -And did I mention this whole "making" process takes only 20 minutes? (Longer to eat because it has to cool/congeal, but still!) Homemade Granola:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats (not the quick cooking ones)
• 1/2 cup wheat germ (don't be scared)
• 1/4 cup flax seed (I used Trader Joe's blueberry flax)
• 1/2 cup - 1 cup nuts (I used slivered almonds. Love me some almonds in my granola!)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• a pinch of salt
• about 1 cup of raisins/dry fruit

Okay, pour your oats, nuts, wheat germ, and flax onto a jelly roll pan or baking pan with sides. Toast them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes so they don't burn.

While that is toasting, bring your honey, sugar, butter, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan, stirring until everything is combined.















Then, pour your oats (etc.), your liquid, and your raisins/fruit together in a big bowl and stir until everything is coated.















Press into a pan lined with greased wax paper (I used Pam to grease mine). If you want to make granola bars, make sure your really press down on your granola when you press it into the pan so it won't fall apart when you cut it. Me? I'm going for that gooey, clumpy goodness. :o) Let stand until completely cool.

Eat and thoroughly enjoy.