Put the Lime in the Coconut Granola

On one of our recent regular Saturday morning walks to downtown we decided to go into a few stores that we don't normally go in but I often comment that we should.    I think the Galena Garlic Company has been in town for three years so it was about time I darkened their door.  We received a nice tour of the store and taste tested a few oils, vinegars and seasonings but didn't buy anything since my plan did not include carrying bottles of oil for two miles back home.  We did return later in the day and after I was offered a taste of the coconut balsamic oil and the lime olive oil mixed together I decided it tasted like summer and I needed to get it.  I made a good basic oil and vinegar salad dressing for a lettuce and avocado tossed salad that night but wondered what else I could do with it.  I needed a granola jar refill but didn't really think there would be a recipe using the oil and vinegar!  I was pretty surprised that there was a recipe and I was even more surprised I even thought of looking for one. The same basic recipe showed up on a variety of olive oil websites which makes me wonder, are all these oils exactly the same and sold under different names?  Probably. This is a great granola recipe if you are looking for one without refined sugar.  I really liked this recipe so next time I am trying it with raspberry balsamic vinegar and walnut oil. Granola really is my addiction...

Ingredients:

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries, cherries or blueberries(I think dried tropical fruit would be good in this recipe)
• 1 cup sliced almonds(I think cashews would be good)
• 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut(I used sweetened :)
• 1/2 cup  Lime Olive Oil
• 2/3 cup Coconut White Balsamic, gently reduced by half and cooled or 1/3 cup honey
• How to reduce balsamic vinegar

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil and balsamic reduction or honey until thoroughly combined.  In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients except the cranberries.  Pour the olive oil balsamic mixture over the oats and mix very well until all the oats and dry ingredients are completely coated with the mixture.  Spread the granola out on to a baking sheet covered in parchment and bake for approximately 1 hour until golden brown and fragrant, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool completely and then mix in the dried cranberries.  Store in a sealed container for up to one month.

Adapted from Oliana Oil recipe for Cranberry, Coconut, Cashew Granola with Lime Oil and Coconut