My Best Batch Yet

I know that naming recipes is not one of my strengths. So if your creativity is sparked, please feel free to shoot alternative name suggestions my way. Trust me: ideas are appreciation, and I could use all of the help I can get.

Anyway...

I am forever making batch after batch of granola. I top my cottage cheese with it nearly every day, and find my own recipes far more satisfying than what I can purchase in-store. It's also one of the simplest things you can make, and doesn't require specific steps/ingredients. 

It's that reason that I end up with a different batch every week. I just throw stuff in a bowl and see what happens. However, using my regular laissez-faire method last weekend, I turned out my best batch to date. So then I was presented with the challenge of remembering what I put in it, and how much. Using my best estimating skills, I wrote down the recipe (a big thanks to my friend Taryn for giving it a shot and confirming that it is, in fact, delicious, and made for the exact texture I was aiming for). 

Why was this batch better than the rest? I think it had something to do with the perfect balance of crunchy, sweet and nutty. Hard to say. Anyway, if you're a granola lover, but are not interested in paying the astronomical prices charged for the packaged stuff, which is always way too high sugar/fat anyway, give this one a go: 

• ​2 cups oats
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
• 1/4 dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 dried cranberries 
• handful of hemp hearts
• handful of chia seeds
• 2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 tsp all spice 
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup 
• 1 tsp vanilla 

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a small sauce pan, bring the oil and syrup to a slight boil. Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla. Pour the liquid mixture onto the dry goods and combine until covered. Put a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread the granola on the pan, evenly. Press down slightly using a spatula. Put the pan into the oven and let bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the pan, and allow to bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the edges start to brown very slightly. Remove, and allow to cool. When transferring to a container, you will need to gently break the granola up into smaller pieces, as it will most likely lift in large chunks.

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Voila! My best batch yet.