Craisin and Walnut Granola

With the combination of working at a hospital and an intense cold and flu season in full peak, it was inevitable sickness would come. And come it did, everything went on hold for a full few weeks! I have been a bad amateur blogger, but here is a delicious recipe that will have you munching for breakfast, lunch, and snacks! 
It probably is not the healthiest granola out there, but the reason I love it is because there are NO preservatives! There's nothing in here but yummy natural ingredients. Plus, as long as it is in an air tight container, it will keep for a month! Another perk is that, unlike pricey granolas, the whole batch probably costs around $2.50

Raisin Craisin and Walnut Granola
Makes approximately 6 cups || cooking time: 1 hour 5 minutes

2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon salt
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 - 1 cup craisins
**Optional: 1/4 cup flax seeds or chia seeds (for more fiber)**

Preheat oven to 300°. 
 
Prepare a large jelly roll pan, broiler pan or large cookie sheet by covering with parchment paper that is sprayed lightly with Pam. If for some reason you forget parchment paper that week at the store (like me), you can always go without, but make sure you really spray the heck out of the pan!

Combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts and salt in large bowl. Stir in condensed milk and oil and mix thoroughly. 

Spread granola mix in pan on top of parchment paper. The key here is surface area. Make sure every inch of the pan is covered in order to get the granola to be the spread.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour - stirring every 10-12 minutes (This is a VERY important step; otherwise your granola will be burned in some areas and raw in others!)

Remove from the oven and stir in the craisins. Let cool and store in a tightly sealed container. Will keep about a 1 month.