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?
  

Tis the time of year when you've gotta make sure your house, car, and anything else is locked up tight or you might get your neighbors extra squash and zucchini! Well I am here to tell you, now you can open your doors and welcome the bounty with open arms! Because we are taking that zucchini and squash and turning it into CHOCOLATE CAKE!!

Chocolate Cake - Taste Tester's Consensus
Husband: Liked it, but could tell that it was zucchini flour
Friend, Natalie who is Gluten Free: Liked it and would totally make it.
Natalie's 9-year old daughter who is also Gluten Free:
Really liked it, wondering what else we can try!
Are you local and want to be a taste tester? Email me and let me know!