Granola

Hippies highlighted granola

Granola is often referred to as hippy food. Could it be because it’s simple, sweet and a little nutty?  Not really, it is because these free spirited souls highlighted granola in the 60’s.  It was considered controversial because it was radically ‘natural’.  Often made from scratch contrary to the highly processed breakfast cereal readily available in the day.   Although  Recipes to the Rescue was not around in the 60’s we did publish a granola recipe back in the late 90’s  which my friend Sandy has been making ever since. She recently wrote and asked for an updated version because the recipe required milk powder which is both expensive and hard to find today.  So we have refreshed the recipe and made it simple, tasty and not too controversial.  Enjoy.

Granola

Groovy Granola

6 cups large oats

½ cup sliced almonds

½ cups walnuts

½ cup pecans

¼ cup unsalted sunflower seeds

¼ cup unhulled sesame seeds

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients into a large bowl except the raisins.  Mix really well.  Line a large rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Pour granola out on cookie sheet, place in oven and cook stirring every 10 minutes for 30 minutes, until nicely toasted.  Remove from the oven and stir in the raisins.