Sharing Plate – Your Cooking Coach |

Are you done with your holiday shopping?? Well, if you are not- do consider making something at home for your family and friends.

Every year I bake a treat to give to my neighbors and friends. I love doing it because I love looking at their faces when I go to deliver the goods. It is definitely a very satisfying feeling.

This year I have a lot of family coming and so I am quite busy. I definitely wanted to make something but I needed it to be less time consuming. I thought of baking several cookies but I find them quite labor intensive.

I thought of granola- I have made it in the past several times and it is absolutely delicious. I have tweaked it over the years and have come up with this recipe. This year since I was making it for the holidays, I decided to add chocolate chips- wow it was off the charts.

I bought cellophane bags and fancy ties from Target and off to work I went. I made two batches and made about 12- 15 bags to give away. I loved giving it to people since it is healthy and absolutely delicious.

Please try it this year- it’s a fabulous idea.

• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• ½ cup flaxseed meal
• ½ cup wheat germ
• ½ cup oat bran
• ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup sliced raw almonds
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1½ cups mixed dried blueberries, cranberries, cherries, etc
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

• ¾ cup extra light olive oil
• 1 cup honey
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl add the oats, flaxseed meal, wheat germ, oat bran, coconut, almonds, walnuts and the dried fruit.

In a large measuring cup, add the olive oil, honey, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Heat in the microwave for a minute to liquefy the mixture and mix well.
Add the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon.

On a large lined cookie sheet or two small cookie sheets, spread the granola mixture, smoothing the surface evenly.
Bake for 20 minutes. Take out of the oven and separate with a fork while the mixture is still warm. Once the mixture cools off, add the chocolate chips. If you want the chocolate to melt all into the granola, add the chips while the mixture is still warm.
Eat with milk, coffee or on its own.