Marge's Homemade Granola

It's good to have protein-packed granola for any occasion. 

Hurricane Idalia is powering through the Gulf and about to strike Florida. At 2pm CST, the wind pressure was 974 mb and moving at 15 mph. At 5 pm CST, winds were 100 mph and Idalia was a Category 2 storm.  Over the next few hours, the storm's intensity is expected to reach Category three status. As with all hurricanes, folks are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. 

My friend and Chef Laura hunkered down with her family a few years back as a hurricane approached the Louisiana/Alabama area. She made banana beignets and a few other hurricane-ready foods. The snacks helped during power outages that lasted several days. 

My Aunt Marge shared this recipe with me many years ago. When my kids were younger, I would make it frequently. It's the perfect granola that can be customized. Marge's favorites are in this granola combination. 

On a side note: Prayers are with all those touched by Hurricane Idalia. 

Ingredients:
Four cups of old-fashioned rolled oats
Two cups of shredded coconut
Two cups of sliced almonds
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of good honey
1 1/2 cups of small, dried apricots
1 cup of small, dried figs
1 cup of dried cherries
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of roasted, unsalted cashews

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss the oats, coconut, and almonds. Whisk the oil and honey and pour over the oats. Spread out onto a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. After cooling, add the dried fruit and nuts. 

Questions Answered...

What's the best way to store granola?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Is it more expensive to make your own granola or buy store-bought?
Pre-made anything right now is very expensive. To have the variety available in this recipe, it would cost twice as much to buy at the store as opposed to making your own. 

Can I use quick oats?
All my research about this question points to 'NO'. When you add liquid to the oats, it tends to make them mushy. Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best.