Cherry Berry Antioxidant Granola

Some of my friends think I'm a granola-eating, tree-loving, barefoot hippie. I can't argue much here, except for the fact that before today, I wasn't really a fan of granola. It has always been too sweet, or too crunchy, or too blah...it just hasn't been right. Trust me, I've tried so many different types because it's one of those things I just felt I had to like. But then Superhero Johanna came to the rescue and gave me this awesome granola recipe. I met this fantastic gal over the past summer in San Francisco, at one of those "hippie-type" conventions. She's just about as cool as they come, so I knew it just had to be good. Johanna swears by this recipe, and I can totally see why. It's not too sweet, not too crunchy, not too blah...it's just right.

The different kinds of dried berries in this granola give it the perfect amount of sweetness (And don't forget their added antioxidant value!). Don't like berries? Fine with me! Just substitute them with your favorite fruit, or leave them out completely. That's the beauty of this recipe- you can tailor it to exactly how you want. Walnuts are my favorite nut, but if you prefer cashews, or peanuts, or almonds, by all means use those instead. It's like making your own custom-made car, but a hell of a lot cheaper and tastier. Another great thing about this recipe is how easy it is to make! You can whip up a batch quicker than it takes to pick out all of the raisins in your store-bought granola.

Try this tasty oat concoction in yogurt, cottage cheese, or on top of sliced fruit...or my personal favorite- by itself! It's seriously so delicious that you may be tempted to eat all of it. At only 160 calories per serving, it's the perfect snack! Throw it in your gym bag for post workout, bring a bag with you when hiking (perfect backpacking snack), or toss some in your desk at work for that 3 pm slump. Or you know, all of the above!

Cherry Berry Antioxidant Granola

Ingredients

3.5 c gluten free oats (I used Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 c water
1/2 c canola oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c agave nectar
1/4 c honey
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 c walnuts
1/2 c dried cherries
1/4 c dried blueberries
1/4 c dried cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 200F
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (easy cleanup, yay!)
Lay mixture on baking sheet, and bake for 1.5-2 hours, while stirring every 20 or so minutes
The granola is done when the oats are slightly browned

Enjoy, my friends!