Granola...Take One

Granola is something that I really never had any ambition to make. Sure, I will eat a granola bar every now and again, but I eat the kind from a box, secured by a wrapper and usually dipped in chocolate fudge. I have never understood the appeal of granola. Actually I think I have used the word "granola" as an adjective saying things like, "she is so granola" or "that is a granola thing to do" more times that I have eaten this food. When using the word as an adjective I don't think that anyone would ever refer to me as "granola".
However, there is a first for everything. I have been eating a lot of yogurt lately. I like vanilla yogurt. No fruit, no cookies, no fancy add-ins of any kind. Just simple, tart yogurt. Yogurt is nice for all dining occasions--breakfast, lunch, dessert and snack time. I also find myself using the word "vanilla" as an adjective saying things like, "that haircut is very vanilla" or "this article is just vanilla". When using this word as an adjective I think that others might easily refer to me as "vanilla".
As much as I enjoy it, a girl can only eat plain, vanilla yogurt for so long. It becomes, well, vanilla. Here's how I went from vanilla to granola in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• .25 cup apple butter (homemade preferred)
• .25 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• .5 cup butter
• .5 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• .5 tablespoon almond extract
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• dash salt
• .25 cup coconut
• .25 cup dried cranberries
• .25 cup raisins
• 3 cups rolled oats, uncooked

Cookware/Utensils:

• baking sheet
• aluminum foil
• spatula
• 1 quart saucepan or small pot
• medium glass bowl
• measuring cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Add oats to bowl and set aside. Place saucepan over medium heat and add apple butter, honey, brandy, butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly until butter melts and a cohesive sauce forms. Remove from heat and add vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon and salt. Pour sauce over oats and stir until all oats are wet. Spread oats onto baking sheet forming a thin layer. Place baking sheet in the oven. After 10 minutes remove baking sheet from oven. Stir oats. Again, spread the oats on the sheet to form a thin layer. Sprinkle coconut over the oats and return the baking sheet to the oven. Allow 10 more minutes to pass and remove the baking sheet from the oven. Stir the oats again. While stirring add the cranberries and raisins. Allow the oats to cool and then store them in an airtight container.