Raisin & Walnut Granola

Back to school is on my mind... Obviously this is a big and busy time for a lot of families. We start back the first week of August. For us that means getting back on track with sleep, routine, and nutrition. One of the things I’m going to focus on is easy ways to get kids out the door in the morning. One of those things, is a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

Homemade granola is really easy. I like it, because I can tailor the flavors for my family specifically. I have a slight allergy to almonds, so I try to be careful to avoid them. Have you ever shopped for granola without almonds??? It’s really hard. So making my own granola is my best bet.

Start with the things your family likes. I made ours very simple oats, raisins, and walnuts. The options are endless, varieties of nuts, dried fruit and grains.

When using raisins, it’s really important to soak them in warm water for 30 minutes before making your granola. This prevents them from getting hard and crunchy in the oven as you cook your granola.

Next you need your fat and sweetener. Are used simple butter and honey. Coconut oil would be excellent, I just didn’t have any in my pantry. I melted one stick of butter in a microwave safe dish, added honey and vanilla and a dash of cinnamon to flavor the granola.

You bake this on a sheet pan on a thin layer at a low heat. Stir in every 10 to 15 minutes.

I cook mine for about 45 minutes. I like a golden brown but not too dark.

Raisin & Walnut Granola

3 Cups of old fashion Oats

1 1/2 Cups of Walnuts (finely chopped)

1 1/2 Cups of raisins (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes... drain before combining )

Mixed together in a large bowl

1 stick of melted butter

1 Tablespoon of good vanilla

1/3 cup of honey

1 tsp cinnamon

Stir wet ingredients with dry until mixed very well.

Spread on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet

Bake at 325 for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Stirring every 10.

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