Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Super Granola

I have always loved granola. When I was a teenage vegan hippie, it was the epitome of the food I thought I should eat. In my later years, when I started reading food labels and getting more into Organics, I realized that  a lot of the granola I was eating was sugary, bad fattening and not doing me any favors in the health nutt-ish quest I've always been on.

 As so many foods that are touted as "healthy", making your own versions are a lot better for your health, as well as your pocket book. Making something yourself lets you know exactly how much of what is in your food, and it turns out this is how everyone used to cook in the olden days!

Here's a granola recipe I love to make when I'm busy in the fall with school and work. It is still a bit high in fat due to the nuts in it, but if you have a 1/2 cup over some low-fat yogurt with berries, it makes a super healthy, filling and energizing breakfast or snack.

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Super Granola

 -3 cups rolled oats

-1 cup coconut

-1 cup bran flakes

-3/4 cup pumpkin seeds

-1/2 cup almonds, silvered

-1/4 cup flaxseeds, ground

-1 cup dried cranberries or raisins

-1.5 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup brown sugar

-1/2 cup maple syrup

-1/4 cup canola oil

1 t. salt

Directions:  Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Combine the oats, nuts, coconut and brown sugar in a bowl and toss to combine. In another bowl, combine oil, maple syrup and salt. Toss both wet and dry together, and bake about 1 hour, stirring granola every fifteen minutes. Remove from oven and scrape granola loose. Once cool, transfer into an air tight container and add craisins, flax seeds, bran flakes and chocolate chips. Should keep over a month as long as air tight. Serve with milk, yogurt, or ice cream.

This is my all-time favorite game face breakfast. 

Full of energizing nuts, good fats, fiber and  omega 3's,  Add a few generous dollops of yogurt and a fistful of berries, and you've got yourself a serious meal.

   You can substitute nuts or add other dried fruits at the end to suit your fancy too.

 Healthy baking doesn't have to be intimidating. See how easy that was to make? =)