Homemade Granola and Flavored Oatmeal Mixes

Granola:

6 cups oatmeal     
1 cup dry milk 
2 Tablespoons cinnamon    
1/3 cup oil     
1/3 cup honey     
1/4 cup dark brown sugar   
1 tsp. vanilla   

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place the oatmeal, milk, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
3. Mix the oil, honey, sugar, and vanilla in a sauce pan over
medium heat just until it begins to boil.
4. Pour the oil mixture into the oatmeal mixture and quickly
stir until everything is moist.
5. Spread your granola onto a cookie sheet and place in the
oven for 6 minutes.
6. Carefully stir the granola and replace in the oven for
another 5-7 minutes.
7. Let the granola cool, then remove it from the pan.

The following variations are sometimes fun, but will make the
granola more expensive. I suggest using them occasionally to
spice up your breakfasts.

Apple Cinnamon: Add 1-2 cups applesauce to your saucepan
mixture, 2-3 tablespoons of cinnamon and an additional 1 cup
of oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Blueberry (my personal favorite): Add 2 cups frozen
blueberries to your saucepan mixture and an additional 1-2
cups of oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Pumpkin: Add 1 cup canned pumpkin to your saucepan mixture and
1 cup oatmeal to your oatmeal mixture.

Cooked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal:

Oatmeal
Water
Unsweetened Applesauce
Cinnamon
Dark Brown Sugar

1. Put the desired amount of oatmeal in a microwave safe bowl.
Most people will begin with 1/2 cup raw oatmeal.
2. Slowly add water until the oatmeal is just covered.
3. Cook in your microwave for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup applesauce, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1
1/2 tablespoons sugar.
5. Mix well. Add milk if desired.

Cooked Oatmeal Variations:

Instead of the applesauce, cinnamon and sugar, try adding your
favorite fruit (strawberries or blueberries are so delicious!)
or another flavor like maple or banana nut. You can use the
same flavors in cooking your granola also.

The less sugar you use, the healthier your breakfast is. Some
members of my family enjoy their oatmeal without any added
sugar while others need the full 1 1/2 tablespoons. Experiment
and see how much you really need.

Sidebar:

One cup of oatmeal contains the following:

- 8 grams of fiber
- less than 2 grams of sugar
- 5 grams of fat
- no cholesterol
- a full cup of whole grains

It's a healthy punch to start your day!
_______________________

Carla Mae Jansen is a freelance writer in Texas. She has a BS
in Biology Composite Teaching, and loves to find ways to live
simpler and healthier.