Everyday favourites make great gifts

Homemade granola is a staple in our house. It hits the spot sprinkled on top of cereal in the morning and is my favourite afternoon snack (mixed with yogurt and sprinkled with maple sugar).

Chances are some of your homemade favourites would make welcomed gifts for your friends and family. They're the sort of practical gifts that are extra special because you took the time to make them and because they generally taste a lot better than  the store bought version. Dress them up with a bow, include the recipe on a pretty card and be happy that you're not at the mall. The recipe below makes enough for you and a friend.

Great granola 

The best ingredients make the best granola. I use Speerville oatmeal, and sunflower, sesame and flax seeds in this recipe. Look for Speerville Flour Mill products in the natural foods section of the grocery store and at some markets.

Look for Terra Beata dried cranberries (from Nova Scotia) at Petes Frootique in the City Market and at other local markets.

Combine in a large bowl: 

6 cups old fashioned rolled oats (Speerville Flour Mill Newfound oatmeal)

1 cup sunflower seeds (not roasted or salted)

1 cup sesame seeds

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds)

1 cup nuts (almonds or walnuts) or pumpkin seeds

2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger (powder)

1 cup dried fruit (optional)

In a small bowl stir together:

1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

1/3 oil

1/2 cup water, cider or orange juice

Stir liquid into dry and mix until well combined. Spread on a sided cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a slow oven (300 degrees) for about an hour, stirring every 15 minutes so the edges don’t get too brown.

Cool completely, add 1 cup of dried fruit if you like, and put in an airtight container.

If you’d like it to be sweeter just add a bit more syrup or honey.

My current favourite:

Walnuts, orange juice and dried cranberries stirred in at the end.