5% Celery Granola

I was checking through blogpatrol.com and noticed several links to 5% Celery from an archive in Chocolate & Zucchini. Upon further investigation, it seems my cohort has given away our secret recipe for our granola. Since that part was given up, I thought it would be kind and generous to give up the rest of it. Now, there are measurements written somewhere, but I am a professional chef, and I cook according to taste. I do not have the exact measurements, so do me a favor--play a little. Put a little of this and a little of that...if it tasts good before it is baked, then it will taste amazing after it has been. Also, know that it will be less sweet once baked, so if you find it pleasingly sweetened before, you might find it a bit less so out of the oven.

5% Celery Granola:

2 C Oats

1/2 C Pepitas (salted is fabulous)

1/2 C Sunflower Seeds

1/2 C Almond Slivers

1/2 C Dried Currants

1/2 C Dried Cramberries

1/4 C Flax Seeds

1/4 C Melted Butter

1/4-1/2 C Agave

1/4-1/2 C Honey

2 tsp Vanilla Paste or 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

pinch of salt

Preheat Oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with a Silpat.

Melt the butter and add in the honey, agave, salt, and vanilla. Mix well and put aside to cool.

Take the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds and pepitas and put in a large bowl. Pour cooled butter and agave mixture over and mix well.

Put on baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake for 15 minutes and take out and mix the edges toward the center and mix in the currants and cranberries and put back into oven and bake until it is golden brown.

Once cool mix in flax seeds and enjoy in a smoothie, with milk or on a hike in Colorado where the real "granola girls" roam.

.:tt:. and >rr<