Granola

I am always on the lookout for good granola recipes. This would be one of many I've come to really like. This recipe was part of the June 2010 Aussie/NZ recipe swap and my teammate is gailanng from the Deep South.

Granola
3 cups regular oats, uncooked
1 (2 1/8 oz) sesame seeds
1 (3 3/4 oz) salted sunflower seeds (I believe I only had unsalted.)
1 (2 1/4 oz) sliced almonds
1/2 cup coconut (I left this out.)
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped dates (I omitted these and used 1 cup craisins instead.)

Preheat oven to 325. Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Combine maple syrup with next 5 ingredients. Pour over oat mixture and mix very well. Spread evenly on a 15x10 baking sheet. Bake 3o minutes or until golden stirring every 10 minutes.
Turn oven off and leave for an additional 5 minutes. Remove. Stir in fruit. Let cool and store in airtight container.

Peanut Butter Granola

I think this is by far my most favorite granola that I've made! It comes from weekend cooker - my teammate for the January 2010 Aussie/NZ recipe swap. This is a filling granola - which I like. I have a feeling you will love it too. :)

Peanut Butter Granola

3 cups regular oats

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup toasted coconut

1/4 cup sunflower kernels (NOT the shells)

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup creamy or crunchy would be good too - peanut butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

Combine first 5 ingredients in a crock pot. Melt final 3 ingredients either in a saucepan or microwave. Pour over oatmeal mixture and mix well. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.

Spread onto a cookie sheet and place in 300 degree oven for 20 minutes - stirring every 5 minutes to dry out granola if you prefer it crunchy.