guest post {granola}

Hey everyone! My name’s Elizabeth and I blog over at Shenanigans. I started this blog, like many other newlywed couples, to document my husband’s and my life after moving to Hawaii. We’ve kept it ever since, and have moved to Idaho and are now in AZ. (Let’s just say we get around J)

I wanted to share a simple recipe for you. I try to eat healthy and have found a new passion for cooking. I grew up on take-out and cereal so cooking and baking has been a trialing but rewarding experience. We all know breakfast is the most important meal and how it’s super duper important to jump start our metabolism and get that brain food. Here’s my recipe granola that’s healthy AND delicious. Eat with milk or pour over some greek yogurt. The oats will keep you feeling full without getting the greasy bloating feeling. Careful though, it can be very addicting!

Enjoy the recipe and come stop by Shenanigans and see what we’re up to!

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice ( i used cinnamon )
• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (didn't add)
• 2/3 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Coat 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, rolled oats, almonds, and pecans in a large bowl. Mix the applesauce, honey, and vanilla in a separate large bowl. Stir the oat mixture into the applesauce mixture, until granola begins to gather in clusters. Spoon granola evenly onto prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven, stirring every 20 minutes, until lightly browned and crispy, about 1 hour.
4. Remove from oven; cool to room temperature. Stir in raisins and cranberries; store in an airtight container.

* I changed the oven settings to 350 and stirred every 10 minuts for a total of 35 minutes. Recipe from allrecipes.com