Recipe: Crunchy Spice Granola

CRUNCHY SPICE GRANOLA

"Sprinkle over yogurt, fresh fruit slices, or frozen yogurt as a quick topping."

FOR THE OAT MIXTURE:
3 cups regular oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup wheat bran
FOR THE HONEY MIXTURE:
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 (6-ounce) jar pear baby food
FOR THE CEREAL MIXTURE:
1 cup wheat bran flakes cereal with raisins
1 cup crisp cross of corn and rice cereal
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup chopped dates

TO PREPARE THE OAT MIXTURE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread first three ingredients on a jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven.

Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F.

TO PREPARE THE HONEY MIXTURE:
Combine honey and next 5 ingredients (honey through baby food) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute.

TO PREPARE THE CEREAL MIXTURE:
Combine oat mixture, honey mixture, bran flakes, and next 5 ingredients (bran flakes through dates); stir well. Spread mixture on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

"I've searched a long time for a tasty granola without added fat. After years of experimenting, I came up with my own. One batch should last awhile in an airtight container. -Diane Lenicheck, Mesquite, Texas"

Makes 64 servings (serving size: 2 tablespoons)
Source: Cooking Light magazine, December 1996