Crock pot Granola!

A dear friend, (thank you Jena) told me about making granola in the crock pot. I've been making granola for years, but always used the oven and found that keeping such a close eye on it got to be annoying. This is the recipe I've always used, just in a crock pot instead! It smells SO GOOD ALL DAY LONG and makes you want to eat some every time you go to stir it. It does take longer, but if you're home all day anyway, it's something nice to have going.

I will share the recipe in double batch form because if you make a single batch it will literally be gone in one day and then you will be sad.....so, just double it from the beginning!

8 cups old fashioned oats
3 cups sliced almonds, (I use sunflower seeds, flax seed, pumpkin seeds, any kind of seed if you don't have almonds....plus, sliced almonds can be alot of $).

1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup honey, (I use pancake syrup if I'm out of honey)
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups raisins or dried cranberries

Coat crock pot lightly w/ non-stick spray.

Pour dry ingredients into crock pot and stir.

In a saucepan warm the oil, honey and vanilla.

Pour over dry ingredients.

Keep crock pot on low for 4-5 hours, stir every 20-30 minutes, (or whenever you pass by, that's the way I gauge it). LEAVE LID CRACKED OPEN W/ THE WOODEN SPOON YOU USE TO STIR IT or it will get too moist. After it cools, add the raisins. You can also freeze this for up to 3 months. Eat and feed it to your children over yogurt, with milk, over ice cream or in a plastic baggie as a snack. ENJOY!