Inspired from several recipes including ones in the cookbook Simply Soy by Kathy Rhodes, PhD, RD and Cheryl Sullivan, MA, RD and The Amazing Flax Cookbook by Jane Reinhardt-Martin, RD

When I was in graduate school during the mid-1970’s, I made a granola recipe that I ate for breakfast nearly every day for five (5) years, maybe longer. Somewhere along the way I got out of the habit of making my own, but recently I have gotten tired of trying brand after brand and finding them all too sweet and all too expensive. So I started on a quest for the old recipe, which I could not find. So after looking in all my old cookbooks and all my new cookbooks, I cobbled together many ideas combining what I wanted for both tasty and healthy ingredients.

Here is my new up to date recipe:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ, untoasted
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/2 cup soy nuts
• 1 cup dry textured soy protein (I bought textured vegetable protein, TVP, by Bob’s Red Mill, which is simply defatted soy flour)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)
• 1/4 cup apple cider (use any kind of juice or juice concentrate if a stronger flavor is desired)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. Nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. Ginger)
• 2 Tbsp. Canola oil (measure before honey, then honey should slide right out of your measuring cup)
• 1/4 tsp. Coconut extract
  

Directions:

• Mix all dry ingredients together in large oven proof baking dish (I use the bottom half of a medium sized Dutch oven) or baking sheet with raised edges. Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl and then pour over oat mixture. Stir to thoroughly mix.
• Bake at a slow 250 degree oven until golden brown, stirring every 20-30 minutes. This may take 2-3 hours depending on the size of the pan or baking sheet. Be careful not to burn.

When done, stir in 1 cup of dried fruit like dates, cherries, blueberries, apples, apricots, or raisins, all cut into raisin size pieces.

Makes 7-8 cups, approximately 15-1/2 cup servings.