Nancye's Citrusy Granola

This is the freshest, tastiest, easiest and healthiest granola I've ever eaten. We just can't eat the boxed processed cereal in this house anymore --- they taste stale as well as too sweet and salty.

I am always looking for ways to incorporate small nuts, seeds, and dried fruits into our daily diet without adding too much fat and sugar and this is one of the best.

I tried this recipe without any sweeteners and we didn't miss it a bit. The citrus fruits make this recipe unique. We eat it for dessert with yogurt too.

Did you know cinnamon lowers blood glucose and cholesterol, fights cancer, and helps brain health and relieves arthritis. You probably need about 1/2 tsp. a day but this is a start. I put 2 tsp. in this recipe without it being too much.

Nancye's Citrusy Granola

Ingredients:

4 cups oatmeal flakes (or other flakes)

1/2 cup wheat germ (optional)

1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts)

1/2 cup seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, poppy, sesame)

2 cup finely chopped dried fruit (raisins, dates, apricots, cranberries)

1 tsp. cinnamon
Juice and zest of 1 whole orange

Juice and zest of 1 whole lemon

1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup brown sugar (optional).

Instructions:

Put the ingredients into a large bowl and stir well.

Spread out on an oiled baking sheet or large metal roasting pan. (I used aluminum foil instead of oil.)

Toast at 300 degrees F. for 30 minutes.
Store in a glass sealer jar. Best within 2 weeks.

Variations: Add shredded coconut; Use maple syrup for part of the sweetener; Add a 1/4 tsp. cardamon or nutmeg.

Goes well with: Yogurt, Milk, Ice cream, Banana