I usually try to tie my posts to seasonal recipes or ingredients — Easter chocolate, Mother’s Day, Christmas cakes, etc. — but I deviate this week with this recipe for granola. Why? Because I love it, and yesterday I made a fresh batch to keep on hand to sprinkle on fruit and yogurt or muesli, one of my new favorite foods! You can, of course, buy a bag at a supermarket or health food store, but nothing compares to a homemade version. Give it a try!

GRANOLA

MAKES 5 CUPS

2 cups Flahavan’s or McCann’s Irish oatmeal

1 1/4 cups shredded sweetened coconut

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2 tablespoons flax seeds

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup apple or pear nectar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking oil spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, pine nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. In a separate bowl, stir together sugar, apple or pear nectar, and honey. Stir into oats mixture. Spread out on prepared pan and bake, stirring every 10 minutes, for about 30 minutes, or until browned. Turn off oven, stir in raisins and cranberries, and

leave the mixture in oven 45 to 60 minutes, until crisp..

3. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Stir in the raisins and store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

MUESLI

SERVES 1

1/4 cup Irish oats

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 Granny Smith apple

Granola, for sprinkling

Fruit or berries, for topping

1. In a small bowl, combine oats and water; cover and soak overnight.

2. The next morning, drain any water not absorbed by oats. Stir in cream, honey, and lemon juice. Grate apple directly into muesli mixture and stir to blend. Sprinkle with granola, fruit or berries.

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