It's really, really hard to find cereals and granolas that don't have nasty ingredients in them, and even harder to find healthy options that taste good. Plus, the few and far between options that are both healthy and tasty tend to be ridiculously expensive. This recipe is made of simple ingredients & it's inexpensive, quick and easy to throw together.

I call this "oatmeal cookie granola" because the uncooked mix tastes similar to our healthy oatmeal cookies (go ahead, steal a bite from the raw stuff; it will give you an idea of whether or not you want to alter the spices to your liking & I wont tell, just don't reuse the same spoon!). 

There are a lot of different ways that you can eat this; as cereal, sprinkled on the top of a fruit smoothie, as a yogurt topper or mixed in with fresh fruit. Like with any granola recipe, this packs a punch in terms of calories - don't think that's a bad thing; calories are good and what your body uses for fuel - just keep it's density in mind as you're pouring yourself a bowl. 

What you'll need:
3 cups oatmeal 
1/4 cup coconut oil (cold pressed, unrefined, organic, minimally processed is best)
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla 
1 cup raisins
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Makes 8-10 servings of granola

How to
In a medium mixing bowl, add and thoroughly stir all of the dry ingredients into the dry oatmeal. In a separate bowl, mix the coconut oil, honey, and vanilla together. If you want to speed the mixing process you can warm the coconut oil by placing it by itself in the preheating oven for just a few short minutes to make it easier to stir in with the other ingredients. Once this is well blended, add to the oatmeal mix. Spread thinly on a baking sheet (you wont need to grease anything) and bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until slightly browned, turning once or twice (ideally every 4 minutes so that it cooks as evenly as possible).

Mix it up: fun variations
- Add chips of dark chocolate to the final product (read the ingredients on your chocolate!)
- Try chopping up different kinds of nuts; almonds, pecans, cashews, etc
- Experiment with different flavorings; add a bit of peanut butter, cinnamon, maple syrup instead of honey, etc 
- Try adding small chips of different kinds of dried fruit; blueberries, cranberries, apple, etc

Save your oatmeal cookie cereal in a glass jar and store in a cool dry place.

Cooking your own food at home is a good way to make sure that your food is free of less-than-ideal ingredients, but also a great way to eat clean on a budget. This is true for dining out at restaurants, and it's also true for making your own meals and quick go-to snacks like this one. It takes a little extra time but it's nice to know what's in the food you're eating and it's a great way to save some extra money.