granola

I'm not much of a week-day breakfast person -- give me a cup of coffee and I'm pretty much good to go. But Evan has recently taken to making granola, and suddenly I often find myself hankering after a bit of breakfast before dashing out the door at 7:40 every morning.

Anything Goes Granola
(as stolen from Mark Bittman):
5 cups rolled oats (not quick-cook)
3 cups mixed seeds & nuts (we've been using chopped walnuts, almonds, and cashews)
1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or other spices to taste
1/2 cup to 1 cup honey or maple syrup to taste (we've been using 1/4 cup agave nectar)
Salt
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1 cup to 1 1/2 cups raisins or other dried fruit (we've used dried cranberries and also some chopped crystallized ginger -- delicious!)

Mix all ingredients except the dried fruit in a large bowl, and then spread out on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Remove, add dried fruit, let cool, and eat away. This is wonderful with plain old milk, but even better with home-made yogurt.