Easy Granola

by Linda Sandy
(Hainan, China)

(made in a wok)

1 cup oil (canola, corn or vegetable oil)
1 cup honey
8 cups instant oats (uncooked)
raisins
dried fruit (banana chips, coconut, etc) (optional)
nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts or peanuts) (optional)
chocolate chips (optional)
miniature M&M's (optional)


1. combine oil and honey together in the bottom of a large wok.
2. Heat the oil/honey mixture for about 2 minutes on high heat. Once the oil is hot, turn the heat down to a medium setting.
3. Add oats all at once; stir the oats til coated with the oil/honey mixture. Continue to stir constantly til the oat mixture is lightly toasted.
4. Remove wok from heat; let mixture cool completely.
5. Place the oats in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Stir together.
6. Store granola in an airtight container.
7. Enjoy!

Chewy Granola Bars

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla
3 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sunflower nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup wheat germ
2 TBSP sesame seeds
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking oil.

In a large bowl, mix together brown sugar, peanut butter, honey, butter, and vanilla.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Turn mixture into your prepared pan and gently spread out and press down to even out.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until bars are golden brown.

Remove from oven and cool in pan, then lift out, peel away the parchment paper and cut with sharp knife into snack size bars.
Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator to keep longer.

Honey Bunches

by Laronda Warrick
(Parker, KS, USA)

These are great for breakfast too!!

1 stick butter
1/2 Cup flaked coconut
1/4 Cup flour
1/2 Cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 1/2 Cup quick oats
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts
2/3 Cup honey

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a mini muffin tin. In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
In large bowl, mix oats, coconut, walnuts, flour, and raisins. Stir honey into melted butter and bring to boil, stirring often.

Pour butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix well. Press 1 heaping tablespoon into each muffin cup. Bake about 12 minutes or just until beginning to brown.

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

DHA Super-Hero Snacks

by Robyn Pomada
(Newbury Park, CA USA)

2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups granola (with chopped walnuts, flax seeds, raisins, etc.)

Beat eggs well and blend into applesauce
Add granola, nuts, seeds, raisins (any of your favorites), mix well
(I love to put walnuts and flax seeds in these for added DHA)!!
Spread in 8 inch square pan that is lightly buttered
Press firmly into pan
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes

Cut into bars, and enjoy! Kids love to help make these, and love to eat them even more! :)

Good Morning Granola

2 Cups of old fashioned oats
1/2 Cup of coconut, flaked
1/2 Cup of toasted wheat germ
1/4 Cup of oat bran
1/4 Cup of sunflower seeds
1/4 Cup of almond slivers
1/4 Cup of pecan pieces
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 Cup of honey
2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp orange peel, grated
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup dried cranberries
1/2 Cup dried apricots, chopped
3 tbsp golden raisins

Set the oven temperature to 350 and preheat.

In a large bowl toss together the oats, coconut, wheat germ and oat bran.

Stir in the sunflower seeds, almond slivers, pecan pieces and sesame seeds.

In a separate bowl whisk together the honey, oil, orange peel, vanilla and salt.

Pour the mixture over the oat mixture and stir until well coated.
Spread the mixture out evenly into a 15X10 baking pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Remove and cool completely.

Stir in the cranberries, apricots and raisins.

Store the granola in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 7 cups

This is low fat, full of fiber and ready to go whenever you don’t have time to make a sit down breakfast.

Sweet Crunchy Granola

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 TBSP water
4 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped nuts (any combination you like)
1 cup raisins

Put butter, brown sugar, honey, and water in a 9x13 baking pan. Turn oven on to 375 degrees and set pan inside oven to melt ingredients.

Remove pan from oven when butter, brown sugar, and honey are melted, stir, then add the remaining ingredients and stir together well.

Put back in oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 10 or 15 minutes while it bakes.

Remove from oven, let cool, and add raisins, mixing again. Let cool completely.

Store in tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Serve with milk as a cereal or as a snack.