granola

I've confessed already my hatred for oatmeal - but I do not mind baked oats. And I adore golden raisins. But here's the thing about store-bought granola - I always get a stomach ache after eating it - with or without the milk.

Two weeks ago, if you'd have told me I'd be making my own granola, I'd have laughed in your face. A big, fat hahahahaha! I hate the kitchen. I only go in there to pop another Ghirardelli Dark & Sea Salt Caramel in my pie hole.

My husband nearly had a heart attack when he saw me spreading the oats on a cookie sheet. "This calls for a toast," he said. "Where's the Scotch?" That husband is a funny guy.

So. I made the granola and I ate the granola. With homemade almond milk. Yup. That's tomorrow's recipe.

And guess what? I don't have a stomach ache. Furthermore, I'm sitting here like a trained dog with the bag of Ghirardelli right next to me, and I'm not reaching for one. Plus, I didn't have the Scotch. #SmallVictories.

BREAKFAST
homemade granola (see below)
almond milk
1/4 cup mixed berries

LUNCH
Salad with leftover salmon and feta
balsamic vinegar

DINNER
Taco night!
Almond meal cake! (I will reveal the recipe for this once I actually taste it and declare it worthy. Or not)

HOMEMADE GRANOLA
4 cups rolled oats
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup golden raisins (soak in water, then drain the water)
1 tsp cinnamon

• Preheat oven to 300
• Measure oats and almonds into a large bowl 
• Mix the wet ingredients in small bowl
• Coat the oats and almonds with mixture
• Spread the coated oats and almonds on a cookie sheet (tip: parchment paper makes it less messy and easier to pour into jars.)
• sprinkle cinnamon over the oats
• Bake for about 20 minutes. Watch closely, and occasionally stir the outer oats into the center (outer oats will brown faster)
• Take out, let cool, mix in the drained raisins 
• Once cool, pour into fancy jars that look nice on your shelf! (Or any container, really, I'm just getting a little Martha on y'all.)

So, tell me dear ones, fans of granola or not? What about coconut and carob? Have any recipes to share?