Autumn Spice Granola

Hi again! Sorry it's been so long since my last post: this has been a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type week for me, and 24 hours doesn't seem to be enough in the day anymore! (Can I get an "Amen"?) When I had some extra time, I did a little food preparation so that I could easily have a quick meal even when I'm in a rush. My favorite result of this haphazard food prep session was a warm, lightly spicy (think cinnamon kind of spicy), and sweet granola. It's by far been my favorite breakfast this week. Also, it's pretty simple to throw together, and likely that you already have several, if not all, the ingredients lurking in your pantry! The recipe:

Ingredients:

2.5 cups quick-cooking oats

1/3 cup chopped walnuts (can also sub with pecans, almonds, etc.)

2/3 cup Splenda (or sugar)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

2 tablespoons coconut oil (can probably sub with vegetable oil or similar)

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/8 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

1/4 cup chopped dates

1/8 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350.

In a medium saucepan over low heat on the stovetop, whisk together applesauce, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and coconut oil until blended together very well. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, sift together oats, Splenda, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry, and mix together as evenly as possible. The granola will start to form clumps.

Lightly grease a baking sheet with raised edges (or a large brownie pan would work, 13x9). Spread the granola over the sheet, covering most of it.

Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, remove and flip/stir the granola a couple times, bake for another 15 minutes, again remove and flip/stir, then place in the oven for 10 more minutes. Finally, remove and transfer the granola to a lidded container.

Toss the dates and raisins into the lidded container along with the granola, place the lid on, and turn the container over a few times in your hands to mix everything together.

Enjoy!! Makes 4 large breakfast servings, easily keeps for at room temperature for at least 5 days.