A Delicious Way to Start the Day

I have made this recipe for years now and it has become a breakfast staple at our house.  It comes from the wonderful book Feeding the Whole Family: Cooking with Whole Foods  by Cynthia Lair.  I bought this book years ago when the kids were little and I still use many of the recipes in it. The recipes are so easy to follow and have such simple but delicious ingredients.  

Nut & Seed Granola 

Note - This can be made nut-free and it is still delicious.  

Just leave out almonds and be sure the other ingredients are from a nut-free processing company.

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch sea salt
1/3 cup cold-pressed vegetable oil
1/3 cup brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1/4 cup apple or orange juice
1 tsp vanilla

• Preheat oven to 150degrees C. 
• In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, seeds, almonds, flour, cinnamon and salt; mix well.
• In a separate bowl, combine oil, syrup, juice and extracts. Slowly pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients, using a spatula to fold and evenly coat the dry mixture with the wet. 
• Spread on a cookie sheet or in a shallow pan and bake. 
• Turn granola every 15 or 20 minutes so that it toasts evenly. 
• Bake until granola is dry and golden (45-60 minutes). 
• Store in an air tight jar. (A mason jar is my favourite)

My favourite way to eat this is with yoghurt but the kids (and Martin) enjoy it with milk.

This granola would make a lovely gift, too.  Especially for busy families who are mindful of their children's sugar intake.  It looks gorgeous in a mason jar waiting to be eaten.