Mani’s Amazing Granola

Ingredients:

-1.5 lb (about 9 cups) Rolled Oats (or a blend of rolled oats, barley and/or rye)

-1 lb (about 4 cups) Protein blend- (sliced almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans and/or fine cut coconut)

-1 heaping teaspoon Sea Salt  

-6 oz  (3/4 cup) vegetable oil  (sunflower, non GMO canola, etc) 

-3 oz  (1/3 cup-ish) honey (I use sugar free maple syrup)

-1 teaspoon  vanilla

-5 oz (2/3 cup) Brown sugar ( I use Swerve)

After baking: 

2/3 to 1 cup Dried fruit---cranberries, sour cherries (my favorite) dried apricots or figs chopped fine, dates, good ol raisins etc.

Directions:

1. Mix all dry ingredients -oats, nuts, seeds, salt--in large mixing bowl

2. Measure oil then honey in a liquid measuring cup, add vanilla.

3. Slowly pour in liquids and brown sugar, mix till coated. 

4. Portion out evenly onto two baking sheets

5. Bake at 325F for 20 minutes, remove all trays from oven, stir completely, bake 10 more minutes, stir and then bake a final 10 minutes.  Bake times may vary!

6. Allow to cool about an hour and stir in after baking—2/3 to 1 cup dried fruit, more if desired.

You can personalize this with cinnamon and ginger mixed with the brown sugar, 1 teaspoon orange extract instead of vanilla, stir in a few chia or hemp seeds after baking.  Alt sugars include coconut palm and turbinado.   Alt liquid sweeteners include maple syrup or agave.  Store in an air tight container. 

NOTE:  I met Mani Naill when he was cooking for Michael Jackson. We hit it off then, and have remained friends ever since. He has cooked for many Hollywood stars, written some phenomenal cookbooks, has owned his own bake shop, and is an amazing chef. During quarantine in 2020, he would Facebook video himself making and baking all sorts of yummy goodness. I make his recipe using Swerve Brown sugar substitute and sugar free Maple Syrup to cut calories.  

For weight watchers this recipe will cost you 4 blue points for a quarter cup. Well worth the points for a special healthy treat!!!