I don’t know how I first learned about making my own cream of wheat from ground wheat kernels. Y’all! I made some this morning. And Oh. My. Goodness!

What I did:
Took 1/3 cup of ground wheat (that I did in my small blender), toasted over medium heat (stirring often). You don’t want them to burn, just toast a little bit. Only did it for a couple of minutes. Set aside and got my 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt boiling and then slowly whisked in the toasted ground wheat. Whisked on medium low for about 4-5 minutes. Towards the end I added my sweetener and stirred it in. Poured into a bowl, added a tab of butter, and a little milk moat for the edge.

This granola is so easy to make. Just old fashioned oats, all-natural peanut butter, and honey. It's great as a cereal, for a snack on a hike, or for any time you want a snack that is healthy and delicious. Plus - it's easy to change it up for your tastes. Don't like Peanut Butter? Use a different kind of nut or seed butter. Want a little chocolate kick, add chocolate chips when you take it out of the oven to cool (don't stir until cooled or you will have chocolate streaks instead of chocolate chips - lol).

Ingredients
5 cups old-fashioned oats - not quick cooking oats
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup peanut butter chunky or smooth - all natural
1 tbsp vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F.
2. Place oats in a large bowl. In a liquid measuring cup add the peanut butter and heat it in the microwave for 45 second until the peanut butter starts to melt. Once melted, add honey. Whisk peanut butter and honey to blend. This is where you add the vanilla if you want, and whisk to incorporate.
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oats and stir until well combined. Spread granola in an even layer on a rimmed, and lined with parchment paper, baking sheet.
4. Bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring at the 30 minute mark. Leave a thicker piece of granola out on a cool surface while you put the rest back in the oven for the remainder of the time. After 5 minutes, test the piece you left out for "crunchiness". If it's still damp continue to the 60 minute baking time. If it's crunchy now, take out and let cool on baking sheet. Granola will get crispier as it cools
5. Let cool completely on baking sheet. Store granola in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
   

Optional Add In's to Your Granola

• coconut - add towards the end of baking.
  
• chocolate chips - add when you take the granola out of the oven to cool (don't stir until cooled or you will have chocolate streaks instead of chocolate chips - lol)
  
• Freeze Dried Fruit (to make it Peanut Butter and Jelly-like) - add when you take the granola out of the oven to cool.
  
• What would you add?