Peanut Butter Granola

My husband and dad eat a lot of oatmeal in the morning.  I know how good oatmeal is for a person, but some days I just can't eat another bowl.  That is why I make granola using oatmeal.  I still get the oatmeal but in another form.  I have made variations of the same recipe for years.  I blogged about it two years ago.  Here it is in case you missed it.  http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/04/granola.html

Recently I made a new favorite.  It is super easy.  I added powdered peanut butter to the recipe.  If you haven't tried PB2 powdered peanut butter, you should.  It has 85% less fat calories.  You just measure out some powder and add water.  Mix it up and use it as you would any peanut butter.  I add it to recipes instead of protein powder.

Easy Granola

6 cups oats (either quick cooking or regular)
5 cups flake cereal (corn flakes, wheaties, rice krispies)
1 cup wheat germ or bran or oat bran
1/4 cup powdered peanut butter (more or less to taste)
1 cup pecans (anything will work like walnuts, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds)
1 Tablespoon chia seeds
1/2 t. salt

Mix together these wet ingredients:
 3/4 cup oil
1 cup (honey, maple syrup or agave)
1 T. vanilla

In a big bowl mix the dry ingredients together.  Heat the wet ingredients and pour over the dry ingredients.  Mix it up so everything is coated.

Pour on a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan and bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours.  Stir every 30-45 minutes so the edges don't get too brown.  At the end press down the granola, turn off the oven and let it cool completely in the oven.  This will give you chunky granola, but you can break it up however you like it.

I added a few mini chocolate chips to the cooled granola.  I like the chocolate and peanut butter taste.  You could add coconut, cinnamon, dried fruit or anything else you have on hand.