Homemade Granola

• 1 handful of shredded or flaked coconut (necessary to granola in my humble opinion)

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup dried fruit. Raisins, cut-up apricots.  

•  1 handful of nuts (slivered almonds are my favorite)
• 5 handfuls of oats (add bran flakes to add a bit more fiber)
• 1-2 tbsp. ground flax seed (optional but you get a lot of nutritional bang for your buck)
• a good pinch of salt 

• a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar
• few drizzles of vegetable oil

• a few drizzles of honey 

1. Spread coconut out in a 9X13 cake pan. Toast just until lightly toasted. Err on the side of white, not brown. This will take 2-3 minutes. It goes fast, don't walk away from oven or I guarantee it will burn.
2. Add coconut to a bowl with the raisins. Set aside.
3. Mix oats, flaxseed, salt and almonds together in a big bowl. 
4. Mix brown sugar and vegetable oil together in a small ice cream dish. Scoop onto the oat mixture. Use your hands if you need to mix in the oil/sugar mixture. You may have to add more oil. The oats should not look dry, but not wet either.
5. Drizzle in the honey and mix well. Probably 2-3 T.
6. Spread it out in the 9X13 cake pan, and bake at 300 degrees F for 15 minutes.
7. Stir. Bake for another 15-20 minutes.
8. Stir and bake another 5-10 minutes or until the oats look toasted brown.
9. Add coconut/dried fruit mixture.

Serve it with yogurt, fresh fruit, ice cream, milk...