because simple is good...

This granola is my favorite. The recipe is in this book and the reason I like it is that it is simple. And simple is good. You can eat it as is with milk - very good. But I like it sprinkled on top of some vanilla yogurt and fresh strawberries. In a pretty little dish, because everything tastes better in a pretty little dish. With a silver spoon.

Great Granola - Makes 1 Quart

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup wheat germ if you have it, tastes fine without

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup of whatever you have around - any kind of nuts, coconut, raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit, sunflower seeds, banana chips...

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

2 tablespoons warm water

1/2 teaspoon of flavoring - optional - you could use cinnamon, ginger, vanilla...

Adjust oven rack to middle position. Heat oven to 275. Spray 13x9 pan with cooking spray.

Mix oats, wheat germ, salt and 1 cup of whatever - except dried fruit - in a bowl. Heat syrup, oil, water and flavoring in a small saucepan until simmering. Drizzle over oat mixture and stir to combine.

Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Stir in dried fruit. Bake until golden brown, 20 - 25 minutes longer. Let cool and eat or store in an airtight container.