Another Gratuitous Granola Post

Normally today I would do a weekend recap post for you, but to be honest, this weekend was mostly a bust.  We had a disastrous Friday the 13th date night complete with a broken movie theatre projector and a greasy dinner that made me feel kind of ill the next day.  And then on Saturday I was, of course, feeling sick and then it poured preventing us from enjoying our previously planned afternoon on Mike's boat.  And then Alex played soccer on Sunday and may or may not have pulled his hamstring just in time for next weekend's half marathon.  Good times.

It wasn't all lost though-- we had a fabulous Saturday dinner date in Wicker Park at Prasino with our almost married (2 months and counting) friends Tara and Nick.  Oh, and I went for round 2 with the homemade granola.  I made a few tweaks to my previous recipe and I have to say that this one was a step in the right direction.  Check it out!

Healthier Homemade Granola: Part II (with figs, almonds, and coconut)
 
Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 1/2 Tbs. honey
• 2 Tbs. canola oil
• 2 Tbs. real maple syrup
• 2 Tbs. water
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 2 1/4 cups old fashioned oats (not the instant kind) 
• 1/4 flaked coconut (I could only find the sweet kind at my store... do they sell it unsweetened anywhere? I may have to try Whole Foods)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup chopped dried figs

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  In a large bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, pumpkin spice, salt, honey, oil, maple syrup, water, and vanilla extract. Add in the wheat germ, oats, coconut, almonds, and figs. Toss well to make sure the mixture coats completely.  Tip: Spray a rubber spatula with a little cooking spray before stirring the granola mixture-- it will prevent the granola from sticking.

Spread the granola out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until crispy, but not yet browned-- about 35-40 minutes, stirring once or twice in between. Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Recipe derived from original courtesy of Melissa d'Arabian, FoodTV.com.


Like granola? Here are some other recipes you may enjoy: 

Healthier Granola with Dates & Pecans
Healthy Homemade Granola with Three Seeds, Cherries & Almonds 
Tropical Granola