GOOD GRANOLA

This budget-friendly recipe has gone through many revisions over the years to make it a healthy food choice, the latest being replacing brown sugar with agave nectar.  Agave has 1.4 times the sweetness of sugar, so you can use less and save calories.  This recipe makes a lot and keeps well for several weeks.  We use it as a topping for fruit or cereal.

14 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup wheat germ or wheat bran

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

3/4 cup unsweetened flake coconut

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 cup agave or honey

1 1/4 cup water

2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-2 teaspoons salt (opt.)

Combine first 5  ingredients in a large bowl.  Combine remaining ingredients in a smaller bowl and add to ingredients in the larger bowl.  Stir well.  Bake on 2-3 large oiled baking sheets for 45 minutes to one hour at 300 degrees, or until dry and golden, stirring after 30 minutes.  Makes a little over a gallon, or about 50 1/3-cup servings.