Granola!

A while back I posted this recipe for Chocolate Granola. Super yum! However, it was high in calories (and fat) (as granola usually is). I decided to lighten it up a little so that I could eat mass quantities of it and not feel guilty.  Lots of oat-y goodness.

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 ground flax
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup raw or processed cocoa
5 tablespoons water (more if needed)
2 tsp  vanilla extract


Preheat over to 250 (if your oven can go that low) or 300.

Put the oats, flax and sea salt in a bowl and mix.

Mix the maple syrup, cocoa, water, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl to insure the cocoa is well-incorporated.
Pour the liquid over the dry mix and mix well.
Spread the granola over a baking sheet covered with parchment or a silicone liner.
Bake for 10-15 minutes and stir. Bake for another 10-15 minutes.
I like my granola a little "crunchy" so I tend to turn off the oven and let it sit in the hot oven for another 5-10 minutes. (Nick doesn't like it as well when I do this, he likes his a little softer--to each his own.)

This granola is super with dried strawberries. If you don't care about the extra calories, add some dark chocolate chips. (If you want to send it into another out-of-this-world dimension, add some walnuts to the mix and bake, but when you do, you get more fat and calories.)

 

This picture is from the other granola recipe, but they look similar.  I'll try to get a new picture soon.