7 cups old fashioned rolled oats (you can also use barley flakes)
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup sliced almonds (I used 2 cups)
1 cup pecans or walnuts (any nut will do)
1 cup sunflower seeds (I used 2 cups)
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
½ tsp salt
1 cup honey (you can use maple syrup for a different twist)
¾ cup vegetable oil (I used canola)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (optional)
1-1/2 cups dried cherries
1-1/2 cups dried blueberries
Use whatever dried fruit you like. The variety, quantity, and size are completely up to you and will not change the rest of the recipe. For variety, you can make half your recipe with fruit and half without.
Mix all dry ingredients in a big bowl. Combine honey, oil, and vanilla. Pour the liquid over the grain/nut mixture and toss until well blended. You do not want to do a lot of heavy stirring, just toss or fold until this is blended.
Spread the granola over 2 large baking sheets with rims. Bake at 250* for two hours, stirring once at about the 1 hour mark. You can shorten or lengthen this time by half an hour depending on how crunchy you like your granola. Turn the oven off and check for dryness. If the granola is not completely dry, let it set in the pan until it is. Allow the granola to completely cool on the pan.
Transfer the granola to a large bowl and add fruit. Store in airtight containers or bags.
