Stop Buying Granola, it's Actually Really Easy to Make

 In my quest to become insufferably pretentious, I began baking my own granola. I soon realized this hobby reaped several more benefits than just making me 'wifey.' 

(This is my spin on a recipe by my wonderful, talented mother, Katie Fuller)

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats (not instant)

3 cups of nuts and seeds of choice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup canola

3/4 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Mix oats, nuts, salt, and brown sugar thoroughly.

3. Add maple syrup and oil and stir until coated.

4. Spread mixture onto two sheet pans lined with parchment paper (I forgot the parchment paper the first time and it was a disaster, don't make my mistake).

3. Bake for about 30 minutes until browned and crunchy, stirring every 10 minutes.

4. Cool and store in jars or airtight containers.

For a few years now I have been on a hopeless quest to find a store bought granola that meets my crushingly high standards. Fortunately, my mom curated this recipe and my predicament ceased. I actually remember the first time I ate this granola, that's how stupidly good it is. 

It was summer and stone fruit was in season dictating that my breakfast diet was entirely composed of yogurt parfaits. My mom had just baked a fresh batch of granola and the house smelled of autumn, brown sugar, and baked goods. Upon the first bite my eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. "Pie!" I exclaimed. The combination of sugar crystalized oats and ripened peaches tasted exactly like cobbler, the yogurt a feeble excuse for vanilla ice cream. 

When I moved into my first college house, it was high up on my to do list to replicate my mom's recipe. I have not purchased store bought granola since. I can cite several benefits to this habit. 

1. Store bought granola comes in plastic packaging and we love the environment in this household.

2. As mentioned, it makes the house smell like heaven.

3. It yields a larger batch than store bought bags.

4. It is cheaper than store bought.

5. It is better than store bought.

6. It is multi purpose and can be used in a parfait, as cereal, as a quick grab and go snack, or even on top of ice cream. 

7. Wifey.