bake it: homemade granola

here's the conversation i had with hopper man during our simultaneous lunch breaks today.
steven: so, what time is your training over?
heidi: 3.30, but they said 3, so i'll be home by 3.30.
s: what are you doing after that?
h: not sure. clean up the house a little bit.
s: i ate the last of the granola today. can you make me some more please?
h: of course!
...and then i asked him what he liked/didn't care for in that granola and picked up some things after my traning.  this boy leaves our house at 6am and eats breakfast at his desk at work.  breakfast is a big deal around here.  it's a definite must, and a healthy must, at that. {minus sundays when it's french toast or something, but even then, we make it healthy style.} naturally, i am worried about this boy's breakfast intake. there's only one way to a) make sure he eats and b) make sure it's something nutritious :: make it myself.  so that's what i do. i make homemade granola bars for him to grab on the go, or green smoothies, or sugar-free muffins. his favorite? granola. and the good kind. you know, without all that overly sugared junk and add ins.

homemade hopper granola

recipe inspiration from: this, this, and this.

you can mix just about anything in this.

i've tried a few different combinations, 

but this is what hopper man likes best.

4 cups oats

1/4 cup sliced, slivered, or chopped raw almonds

3 tbsp - 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup raw pepitas {pumpkin seeds--they're green}

3 tbsp. organic chia seeds

3 tbsp. organic flax seeds

3 tbsp. organic cacao nibs

3 tbsp organic coconut oil

1/2 cup raw honey

oven preheated to 300 degrees f.

mix all ingredients in order in a large bowl.  make sure everything is evenly mixed and evenly coated.  take a little taste.  mmmm.  now stop.  get your hand out of the bowl.  you can keep smackin' your lips, because i know it's that good. 

carefully pour the granola onto a cookie sheet.  no need to grease, because there is oil in it already.  pop it in the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes.  after 10 minutes, carefully turn and rotate the granola with a spatula.  if you don't, the top and edges will burn.  set the timer for 10 more minutes.  turn and rotate the granola again.  set the timer for 8 minutes.  make sure it doesn't burn!  it should be golden brown.  

other options/add-ins we've tried: 

unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut

unsweetened dried fruit*

any raw nuts {cashews, pistachios}

puffed millet or brown rice 

{make sure the ingredients read: puffed         , i.e., nothing else!}

replace 1/2 the honey with a mashed banana

a little almond butter {or other nut butter} 

+ a splash or two of almond milk

the best part about granola is that it's super easy and you can make it however you'd like! sometimes i forget to put some almond butter in, other times i just don't. sometimes i add in banana chips. usually, i put in some sort of puffed cereal, but i didn't buy any today. who cares?!  plus, it's a fool's proof recipe--you can't mess it up! {unless you burn it.}

another option is to not bake it at all, or bake it less for less crunch.

*sweetened dried fruit isn't necessary!

fruit is already sweet, and often times

they add preservatives

or unhealthy oils to the fruit, not to

mention the white, processed sugar.

now i'm going to pour myself a bowl of granola before hopper man takes this to work tomorrow.  top it off with some homemade almond or coconut milk {and maybe a sliced banana?}. hello delicious.