Granola

This is a really addictive and delicious granola recipe we got from Cook's Illustrated. We made it before bed and it made the house smell amazing. There are a lot of really great variations too (we first made the pecan-orange with dried cranberries). This tastes great with just plain milk, almond milk or icecream.  One batch makes about 9 cups. Sorry there's no picture.

1/3 c maple syrup
1/3 c packed light brown sugar
4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c vegetable oil (I used coconut oil and olive oil)
5 c old-fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant)
2 c raw almonds, chopped course
2 c raisins or other dried fruit, chopped

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in large bowl. Whisk in oil. Fold in oats and almonds until thoroughly coated.

3. Transfer oat mixture to prepared baking sheet and spread across sheet into thin, even layer. Press oat mixture down with spatula until compact. Bake until lightly browned 40 - 45 minutes, rotating pan once halfway through baking. Remove granola from oven and cool on wire rack at room temperature about 1 hour. Break cooled granola pieces into desired size. Stir in dried fruit. Can be stored for up to two weeks.

Pecan-Orange with Dried Cranberries
Add 2 T of finely grated orange zest and 2.5 tsp ground cinnamon to maple syrup mixture in step 2. Substitute pecans for almonds (I did one cup of each). After baked granola is cool, add 2 c dried cranberries.

Spiced Walnut with Dried Apple
Add 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1.5 tsp ground ginger, 3/4 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 freshly grated nutmeg and 1/2 tsp black pepper to maple syrup mixture in step 2. Substitute coarsely chopped walnuts for almonds. After granola is broken into pieces, stir in 2 c chopped dried apples.

Tropical Granola with Dried Mango
Reduce vanilla extract to 2 tsp and add 1.5 tsp ground gingern ad 2/4 tsp grated nutmeg to maple syrup mixture in step 2. Substitutue coarsely chopped macadamias for almonds and 1.5 cups unsweetened coconut for 1c oats. After granola is broken into pieces, stir in 2 c chopped dried mango or pineapple.