Pierre

What's more important than doing taxes? Making granola from scratch, of course. (note the onion bowl I displayed it in... sometimes you just HAVE TO HAVE plates shaped like lemons and bowls shaped like peapods and onions. or maybe that's just me...) Scott and I kind of winged this recipe and it turned out fabbbbulous. I'll try to make the recipe as accurate as possible... if it doesn't taste good, you did something wrong and should just come over here for a bowl of cereal next time =)

Cherry Vanilla Granola

2 cups pitted dates (soaked 1+ hours... and save the soak water)

1 cup cherries (preferably fresh but we used frozen... and therefore let them thaw 1 hour)

1 cup raisins (golden are the best)

1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup (i'm sure agave would work as well)

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup ground flax seeds (mixed with just enough water to get it into a paste)

4 TB chia seeds (mixed with just enough water to get it into a... jelly of sorts... 4 TB maybe?)

2 tsp vanilla

^^^ combine all in food processor (except 1/2 cherries... chop those up and stir in later)

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in an extremely large bowl, combine:

6 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup chopped almonds

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mix the wet and dry ingredients and either put on baking sheets in a oven at a very low temperature and check often OR put on nonstick sheets (or waxed paper) in your dehydrator (if you listen to nothing else i say... listen to this: EXCALIBUR DEHYDRATOR IS SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD OWN BEFORE THEY DIE) @ 120 degrees for approximately 10 hours.