Wholesome Food: Healthy Granola

This is a staple in our home. I make this just about every week and eat it for breakfast with yogurt or soy milk and maybe some fresh fruit.

Homemade Healthy Granola

3 1/2 cups rolled grains
1/2 cup chopped nuts/seeds
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons canola oil
5 Tablespoons honey, maple syrup, agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or other extract
1/2 cup dried fruit, diced (if desired)

Mix this all (except dried fruit) together and bake in a 325-degree oven for about 30 minutes, stirring once about half through. Mix in the dried fruit, if using, when the granola comes out of the oven.

Cool completely and store in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

You can use all rolled oats in this recipe, or mix the grains any way you'd like. I really like rolled barley, but you can use rolled rice, rye, spelt, triticale, anything you like.

You can mix nuts, seeds, grains, and fruits a thousand ways. Choose flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, raisins, dates, dried mango, cranberries, blueberries - yum! Mix it up anyway you would like and enjoy a healthy homemade breakfast!