Granola

I'm kind of obsessed with fruit and yogurt parfaits. I have one for desert almost everyday after dinner. They consist of a container of Yoplait light yogurt (Chobani greek yogurt if I'm insanely lucky) blueberries, and a topping. I used to use crunched up Honey Bunches Of Oats, which tastes great, but my true love is granola. The nutrition facts make me weary of buying too much, however, so I decided to try to make my own the way I wanted it. I wasn't sure how well it would work but it's delicious. I made it for myself and sure enough its almost gone. And I've eaten it once. Thanks mom and dad.

Maple Cinnamon Granola 

Ingredients:
 
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cups brown rice crisp cereal
1 T (at least) ground cinnamon (I love cinnamon. Use it to taste)
1 tsp sea salt (make sure its sea salt. Every few bites you'll get a delicious salty crunch)
1/2 cup fruit puree (I used a half of an apple and a half of a banana blended together)
1/2 t maple extract (if you don't have, omit. But if you can get your hands on it, its worth it or sub maple syrup, but that adds sugars)
drizzle of honey (optional)
1/3 cup truvia, splenda, or stevia (brown sugar if you want sugar)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole almonds (or other nuts of your choice although the almonds were delicious)
1/2 cup dried  fruit (cranberries, raisins, blueberries, currants, etc)

Instructions:
 
Preheat the oven to 300 F .
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the 2 kinds of oats, rice crisp cereal, cinnamon and sea salt. Stir to mix well.
In a medium bowl, combine the fruit puree, honey (if using), truvia (or other sweetener), vegetable oil and vanilla extract and maple extract. Stir to mix well.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ones, and mix until completely blended (it's best to use your hands to get everything evenly coated.)
Spread the mixture out evenly between the two prepared baking sheets. Squeeze clusters of granola together with slightly damp hands, allowing for space between the clumps in order for air to circulate while baking. Make the clumps as big as you like. They will stay the way you make them.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Flip over the granola with a large spatula and add the almonds. Bake for another 30 minutes (or more, depending on how thick the layer of granola) until completely dry and just golden brown.
Let cool on baking sheets, and store in an airtight container when completely cool. Add in the dried fruit.