Granola – 2 sets of measures – first is the same as the original – second is half measure.

• 3/4 cup grapeseed oil [8 fl oz] [4 fl oz]
• ½ cup real maple syrup [4 fl oz] [2 fl oz]
• ¾ cup raw honey (or regular honey) [8 fl oz] [4 fl oz]
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract [1/2 teasp]
• 1 teaspoon almond extract [1/2 teasp]
• 3 cup oatmeal [12 oz] [6 oz]
• 1 ½ cup lightly toasted sliced almonds [6 oz] [3 oz]
• 1 cup toasted pecan pieces [4 oz] [2 oz]
• 1 cup wheat germ or ground flax seeds [1 oz] [1/2 oz]
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes – or dessicated [3 oz] [1.5 oz]
• 1 teaspoon of good cinnamon [1/2 teasp] [1/4 teasp]
• ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves [I think we can figure out this in smaller amounts]

Optional: 1 cup dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries or golden raisins.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 130. Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan, stir together the oil, honey, and maple syrup. Place over low heat and bring just to a simmer. Do not boil! Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (except for the cranberries/raisins if you’re adding them). Pour the warm honey mixture over the top, then toss to coat the grains and nuts. Divide the mixture onto the cookie sheets. Flatten the granola with the back of a spatula.

3. Bake the granola for 20 minutes; remove the pans from the oven and stir. Spread the cereal again and bake 20 minutes more until golden brown. Cool the cereal completely on the pans so it becomes crisp.

Stir in the cranberries or other dried fruit. Store in an airtight container. Sprinkle over yogurt or add to home-made muesli – add fresh fruit…

Cooks Tips...

Can’t find a shallot to hand? Use a quarter of a small onion - not perfect but if it takes longer to drive to the supermarket to buy a shallot than to eat the meal... you know what I’m saying?

Grated zest of lemon - same applies - use a splash of bottled lemon juice and if anyone asks ‘shouldn't there be lemon zest in this? they obviously (a) have far too experienced a palate to be eating your food anyway or (b) have ‘super-vision’ eyesight in which case they are probably aliens and you should remove their food and call Mulder and Scully immediately.

Fresh herbs, not dried? Nice but not always essential, apart from when you need to “…tear a few leaves of basil and scatter on the soup before serving…”.