Granola Goodness

I was mixing up a batch of granola this morning when Sweetheart came in with the camera.  So...we're set for breakfasts for awhile I think!  I ended up with three gallons of granola when I was done making a triple batch.  Good thing Sweetheart got me this big bowl!  It's really handy and huge.
I've made a lot of granola over the years and while I think the recipe from the Garland's Lodge Cookbook is the best tasting, this is an easy and quick recipe that comes together fast and without a lot of mess.

Granola 

Blend together in a big bowl:
8 cups oats
4 cups nuts/coconut/seeds (Fill in with extra oats if you don't have enough nuts.)
2-3 TBL cinnamon/nutmeg/cloves

In another bowl/pan heat & blend:
1/2 mild tasting oil
3/4 cup honey or syrup

1-2 TBL vanilla

Pour half the liquids slowly over dry ingredients and mix well.  Add the rest and stir, stir stir! (As you can tell from the picture, I gave up with the spoon and mixed by hand because I was making so much.)
Spread out on cookie sheets.  I use parchment in my pans to keep it from sticking.  This amount of granola fills three huge cookie sheets.  Bake at 300* for 30 minutes.  You may want to stir the granola and rotate the pans as you bake, if you wish.  It should turn golden and smell yummy when it's done. 
I then poured all the baked granola back into a bowl to cool.  When it's cooled, I like to add a variety of dried fruit like cranberries, raisins and banana chips.  You could even do chocolate chips when it's cool if you like, but since we eat it for breakfast I don't.  Store in airtight jars.
Canning jars of granola also make nice gifts. 

Enjoy!