Rustic Kitchen Granola

Aside from being delicious, this granola has not added fat like most recipes. Make it your own by personalizing your combination of dried fruit and nuts, like cherries with walnuts, or raisins and peanuts. Stir in lemon or orange zest at the same time for another flavor dimension.

6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup pine nuts
½ cup dried apricots, sliced julienne style

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place oatmeal in large roasting pan. Drizzle with honey, then sprinkle with cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Pop it into the oven for a minute or two, then stir until the oatmeal is evenly coated. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so to prevent clumping. Remove from oven, stir in pine nuts and dried apricots and continue to stir every five minutes or so until cool to maintain the loose texture.

Serve with maple yogurt and fresh fruit. Makes about six cups.

Maple Yogurt

1 cup plain yogurt
¼ cup maple syrup

Line strainer or colander with a coffee filter and pour in yogurt. Strain over a bowl for about 30 minutes to eliminate some liquid so that yogurt is thick and creamy, the texture of sour cream. Transfer to shallow serving bowl and drizzle with maple syrup.

Makes about one cup.