I found a container of oats in the back of our pantry the other day. Micah and I have been setting goals for cutting our grocery budget and doing better about using up what we have in the house; so I made an apple crisp one night but was still left with about 5 cups of oats in a can stamped 07-14. These oats needed to find a home in our bellies quick, or they would find themselves in the compost.

So, I asked my mother-in-law for her famous granola recipe, and she graciously obliged! (Get out your notebook, pin this, or whatever you need to do because you are going to want to make this!)

Here is our cast of characters:

Just look at those classy, store brand ingredients! 🙂

You will need:

A 9×13 dish – Oven @ 250 degrees F.

1/4 cup maple syrup (also did not have this…use whatchya got!)

1/4 cup butter, melted

First, butter your 9×13 dish.

Next, add your dry ingredients straight into the buttered dish. Start with 5-6 cups of oats,

1 cup chopped pecans (or other nut),

1/2 tsp. salt,

1 tsp. cinnamon,

and a 1/2 cup of brown sugar.

Now stir together.

The last two ingredients are your wet ingredients – 1/4 syrup and 1/4 melted butter.

I poured my syrup right on top of my butter and popped them into the microwave for about 30 seconds so they would melt together.

When the mixture is melted, drizzle over dry your ingredients.

Stir together until well coated, making sure the syrup mixture does not sit on the bottom (as it might burn – and miss the opportunity of making it into your mouth)!

Bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees F.

Stir once or twice while baking.

After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and leave your dish in there overnight or for several hours. This will give your granola that crunchy texture we all know and love.

To store, place your granola in an airtight container.

Serving suggestion:

Enjoy with milk, fruit & yogurt, or as an ice cream topping! This morning I was craving a parfait, so I got to work making a dent in that big jar o’ granola.

*Bonus Recipe: Fruit & Yogurt Parfait

Rinse small berries or cut up fruit such as strawberries, peach or nectarine.

(This picture makes my mouth water – I had been eyeing this nectarine all week & caught it at the perfect ripeness. It’s the simple things, ya know?)

Layer fruit, yogurt and your homemade granola in a cute dessert dish that coincidentally also came from you mother-in-law. (Thanks, Mom!)

Enjoy!

Thank you, Jayne Putman for sharing your delish granola recipe! Feel free to add corrections and variations in the comment section 🙂

Does anyone else have a recipe or trick to use up things that otherwise might go to waste?