Master Granola Recipe

this came from a Sunday paper insert...have not tried it yet..but sounds yummy...you will need to add a cup of extra ingredients listed below ingredients...

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 1 quart

Ingredients

• 2  cups old fashioned oats
• 1⁄2 cup wheat germ
• 2  tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup maple syrup
• 3  tablespoons canola oil
• 1  tablespoon water

Directions

1. CLASSIC GRANOLA: 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.
2. 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut.
3. 1/3 cup dark or golden raisins.
4. 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon.
5. (you can replace the 1/4 cup of maple syrup with 2 tbls each of syrup and molasses).
6. CRUNCHY GRANOLA:
7. 1/4 cup slivered almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, 2 tbls sesame seeds, 6 tbls currants.
8. GRANOLA WITH TROPICAL FLAVORING:
9. add the coconut along with the cashews and banana chips -- 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted cashews, 1/4 cup chopped banana chips, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple, flavoring, 1/2 tsp ground ginger.
10. GRANOLA WITH CHERRIES AND ALMONDS:
11. 1/3 cup sliced almonds, 1/3 cup sweetened coconut, 1/3 cup dried cherries, flavoring: 3/4 tsp almond extract.
12. TRAIL MIX GRANOLA: 1/4 cup chopped roasted unsalted peanuts, 1/4 cup sweetened flake coconut, 1/3 cup dried cherries, flavoring 3/4 tsp almond extract.
13. ORANGE BERRY- GRANOLA WITH PECANS: 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup dried blueberries, flavoring 1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest.
14. ORANGE FLAVORED GRANOLA WITH PISTACHIOS AND MANGO AND DATES: 1/2 cup chopped roasted pistachios, 1/4 cup chopped dates, 1/4 chopped dried mangos -- flavoring -- 1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest and 1/4 tsp allspice.
15. to prepare MASTER RECIPE:
16. adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 275*. coat a 9x13" metal pan with cooking spray, then set aside. mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt and any extra ingredients. except dried fruit--in a bowl. bring syrup, oil, water and any flavoring indicated below to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat -- drizzle over oat mixture and stir to combine -- pour mixture onto prepared pan -- working a handful at a time, squeeze cereal to form small clumps. bake for 30 minutes, stir in dried fruits, continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes, longer. let cool -- granola can be stored in an airtight container tin for up to two weeks -- .