Crunchy Granola
 
Ingredients:
 
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups of old fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or slivered almonds
Dried fruit optional, raisins, dates, figs, cranberries, bananas, pineapple 
your choice is endless
 
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 
Combine brown sugar and water in a 4 cup microwave proof glass cup or bowl, 
no smaller as it may boil over.  

Remove from the microwave, add vanilla extract and salt. Stir to combine until salt 
dissolves. 
Place oats and nuts in a bowl, pour brown sugar syrup over them. Stir thoroughly. 
Spread mixture on cookie sheet and bake 45 - 60 minutes, or until golden brown and 
crunchy. When mixture comes out of the oven it is still pliable. You may choose to add 
dried fruit as a finishing touch at this time. When granola is cooled place into an 
airtight container.
 
*HINT*
More sugar 1 1/2 cups will make the granola clumpier and as you apply the mixture to 
the cookie sheet,  manipulate with your hands to make even more clumpier. Be careful 
though you don't want the granola to crumble to bad.  This is great by itself as a 
snack to replace candy and sweets. Wonderful in yogurt and healthy for you.
 
**GIFT IDEA**
 
Need a quick little gift for the postman or the paper delivery, even teachers. 
Place granola in baggies decorated with decals, stickers and ribbons colored for 
the occasion , on a recipe card or index cards add the recipe for the granola. 
Stick in gift baskets even  Christmas stockings.  You will be amazed how creative 
you can be adding different fruits and using different containers. 
 
Enjoy,
LuAnne