Vermont Maple Granola

I found this home made granola recipe a few years ago.  It is so much better than the granola you buy and so easy to make.  I love to eat it with yogurt and maybe some fresh fruit.  You could use it as cereal if you like also.  

Vermont Maple Granola

Ingredients:

7 cups rolled oats, uncooked
1 cup toasted coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup almonds, sliced or broken up
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped or broken up
1 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
1/2 Dry Milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins (optional)
additional dried fruit/nuts as desired

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and milk powder.  Mix well.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt, oil, maple syrup and vanilla.  Pour over dry mixturre in bowl, stirring and tossing till everything is very well combined.

Spread granola on a couple of large, lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake in a preheated 250 degree oven for 2 hours, tossing and stirring mixture every 15 minutes or so.  I often stir every 30 minutes.  Remove pans from oven and cool completely.  Transfer granola to a large bowl, and mix in raisins and additional dried fruit, as desired.