GREAT breakfast or snack idea - Homemade Granola

This past October I took the "October Unprocessed 2012" challenge and it has totally changed my eating habits for life. I've always been fairly healthy (I thought) until I started reading ingredient labels.  Pretty much if it has more than 5 ingredients I don't buy it! Obviously, I falter from time to time, but for the most part - I eat REAL food the majority of the time.  I will be sharing the REAL food recipes that I've tried and my REAL fitness workouts.

If breakfast is always a struggle for you, then make a batch of this homemade granola on Sundays and you will have something for breakfast or a snack all week long.

Homemade Granola

1 cup steel cut oats
2 1/2  cup old fashioned oats (I didn't use quick cook)
1 cup slivered almonds (unsalted)
1 cup shelled pistachios (unsalted)
1 cup dried cranberries
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
4 Tbl. unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Cover a rectangle baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix all dry ingredients, including spices, in a large mixing bowl.  Melt the butter & honey together in microwave, once melted add vanilla extract.  Pour hot liquid over the dry ingredients and stir until evenly coated.  Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer.  Bake for 75 minutes.

Let cool.  The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break it into pieces.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Spread out evenly and ready to go in the oven.

Be sure to store it in an airtight container @ room temperature.

It is great over yogurt - Stonyfields organic plain whole milk (stay away from low fat/no fat).  Or it is great just by itself as a morning or afternoon snack.

Hope you enjoy!