Easy Nutty Granola

Makes 4 ½ cups (about 18 servings=1/4 cup each)

Recipe from The Food You Crave by Elle Krieger

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

Nuts are loaded with protein, minerals and cholesterol-lowering compounds.  Though fats in nuts are considered good fats, they should be eaten in moderation.  One serving of nuts is 1 ounce.  This granola is very simple to make and takes only ½ hour to bake.  It’s very tasty with a hint of cinnamon and sweetened with real maple syrup and raisins.  Plan to double or triple the recipe and store in an airtight container.  Eat some sprinkled over fresh fruit and yogurt for a great breakfast or snack. There are a couple of other fantastic homemade granolas on my blog as well.  It's really hard to choose which ones to make each week! Here are two more of my favorites:  Cacao Nib-Pepita Granola OR Balamku's Granola 

Cooking spray

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup chopped almonds

½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup real pure maple syrup

¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup raisins (I especially love golden raisins.)

Preheat the oven to 300 F.  Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, mixing well to coat everything with the maple syrup.  Spread on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Transfer the rimmed baking pan to a wire rack and let the granola cool completely.  (It will crisp up even more as it cools.)

Nutritional Information:  (per 1/2 cup serving) 280 calories; 7 grams protein; 34 grams carbohydrates; 4.5 grams fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 67 mg sodium; 15 grams total fat (3.7 grams mono; 4.7 grams poly; 1.5 grams saturated)