• 3 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup flax seeds
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cups slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup walnut pieces
  • 1/4 cup walnut oil
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 cups dried fruit combination (I used dried cranberries, dried Pomegranate cranberries, figs and dried fruit bits which raisins, dried apples, apricots, etc.)

After being a stay-at-home mom for twenty-two years (which was a great privilege) I am now an empty-nester! Eighteen of those years were spent homeschooling, so when Mike and I dropped our two sons off at college this past Saturday, we had no idea how we would react. We were happy to have both boys on campus together. Our eldest son, a senior living in his new apartment, assisted many of the new freshman including his little brother on move-in day. Alexander’s building was totally renovated. Everything in these dorms, including the bathroom, were new, clean and wonderful. Alex’s roommate, Reid, arrived and we couldn’t have been more thankful. Reid and Alex have much in common.

Mike was so kind (and wise) to plan a special getaway to Charleston, South Carolina. We left the following morning and loved every minute of our time there, in fact we can hardly wait to return to the beautiful historic city of Charleston.

What a wonderful time we had! One of our favorite places to eat breakfast was the Peninsula Grill at the Planter’s Inn where we stayed. The homemade granola was so delicious. In addition to the homemade granola, we enjoyed Corned Beef Hash with Poached Eggs, Egg White Omelets with spinach and tomatoes, Roasted Potatoes, thick slices of Smoked Applewood Bacon, Grilled Bangers, delicious creamy grits, muffins, fresh fruit, croissants, pastries and I could on…

We arrived back home last night and I woke up a little early this morning to surprise Mike with homemade granola that tasted just like the granola we’d been enjoying all week. We enjoyed our breakfast on our screened in porch and then I called my mom to tell her all about our trip! We are now heading out for a walk later this morning in an attempt to shed some of the weight we’ve gained during our vacation!

 

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and place one of the racks directly in the middle of the oven. Spray the bottom of your broiler pan or baking sheet with a non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine oats, flax, pumpkin and sesame seeds, slivered almonds and walnut pieces. In a measuring cup or small bowl combine walnut oil (you can also use grapeseed or canola oil), cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, dark brown sugar, honey and maple syrup. Mix well and pour over oat mixture. Using your hands mix until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.

Cook for ten minutes, stir and cook or another ten minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Once cooled add dried fruit, mix and enjoy!

Note: If you like a sweeter granola, you can add a little more maple syrup or brown sugar.