Tropical Granola Goodness

If you are like me, and you LOVE some crunchy granola, you will be so happy to hear how easy it is to make your own…And because you are finding it here, of course it is going to be tropical.

First, the quick back-story:  Within a certain groupie of food-bloggers, (remember SALAD week when I joined in on the link-up fun?) there has been a little “care package exchange” going on.  All of these ladies have had some fun sending one another  a box filled with goodies from their local area.  Jeanne, the sweet and sassy Texan from Inside Nana Bread’s Head, asked if I was interested in doing an exchange with her.  I answered, “Hee haw!”  Or “Howdy!” or something that means yes in Texan.  Because Texan is a language, right?

Truth be told, Jeanne was craving some macadamia nuts, and she couldn’t take my tweeting-blogging-blabbing about our home-grown nuts another minute.  I was game, for sure.  I happen to love ME some good southern BBQ sauce, and I had a feeling Jeanne wouldn’t disappoint.

We did the exchange–I got my BBQ, she got her mac nuts, and we had a WIN-WIN.

Back to the granola:  One of the (many) item’s in the box Nana Bread sent was this:

It’s been a while since I’ve had Bob’s Red Mill, and I almost forgot how good it is.  What a difference!  My recent Quaker-in-bulk at Costco days might just be over…Bob is what’s for breakfast now.

Because of this revelation, I do recommend you use some high quality oats when you make your own granola.  But for starters, just use whatever you have.  You’re going to want to just hurry up and make this.

Like today.

Nana Bread had sent the oats with the specific recommendation that I try the granola found at Gingerbread Bagels site.  She had made it and loved it, and knew I would like it too.  She was right!

I tend to change things up as a habit, so my recipe is similar, but a tad different from the one at Gingerbread Bagel’s site.  (My photos however, do not compare.  I’m still learning friends, thanks for loving me anyways.)

Here’s my ingredients:

4 cups rolled oats.
1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts.
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut.
1/2 cup raisins. 

(keep in mind–You can add any variety of goodies to your granola…switch things up according to your tastes!  I suggest any kind of dried fruit, nuts, or even chocolate chips (stirred in at the end.)  Be bold.  Be free.

1/2 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup brown sugar.
1 tsp. vanilla

1.  Combine the oats, nuts (ANY Nut will do,) and coconut.

(I added my coconut and raisins at the end, that’s why you don’t see them here.  It’s really the same either way.)

2.  In a small sauce pan, combine next three ingredients.
3.  Bring to a boil.

4.  Turn down heat and stir over medium heat for about five minutes.

5.  When it comes off heat, add a teaspoon of vanilla.

6.  Pour the sweet-oil mixture over the oats and nuts, and stir well.

7.  Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

8.  Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour and fifteen minutes, stirring around every fifteen minutes or so to bake evenly.

9.  Remove, and  pour into a bowl.
10.  Add milk, and enjoy!….OR make yogurt parfaits for your family (I did!  They loved me for it.)  Or use it to top ice cream…The possibilities are endless.

MY FAVORITE thing is to just chunk it up, and eat it straight from the bowl.  With my fingers.  Yes, I said it.  my fingers!  Pure crunchy goodness.

Good granola is very expensive here in Hawaii, so I am happy to have this recipe.
It is so easy, and it will save you a heap of money.

Let me know how it goes!  And share any variations on the recipe if you try something different!

Aloha,

Grommom