High Protein Granola

I've been on a granola kick lately.  All Summer I tried different crock pot granola recipes.  I really liked that I didn't need to heat up my oven for granola in the Summer. But I also found that a crock pot doesn't seem to get hot enough to make really good crunchy granola.  I haven't entirely given up on it......it was really quite edible just not crunchy. I'll share recipes when I have my favorites.

At that time I started playing with the idea of adding more protein, good fats and just all around super-fooding (yeah probably just made up that word) my granola.

This is my favorite version so far and I love how it has almost a gourmet (if you can say that about granola) flavor.  It's like high society granola.  Either way I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a crunchy granola girl who enjoys some gourmet granola every once in a while!

Mostly I just love the added energy it seems to supply me with.

High Energy Granola

8 cups regular rolled oats
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
2 cups sunflower seeds
1 cup quinoa flakes
1/4 cup amaranth, puffed
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup coconut (palm) sugar or Sucanat
1 cup maple syrup
1 scant cup honey
2 Tablespoon molasses or sorghum
2 teaspoons kosher Real Salt
1 cup other nuts (optional, we like pecans or almonds)
dried fruit of choice (optional, we like cranberries, apricots, dates, currents or raisins)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  In large bowl combine all the dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients, salt and other optional nuts.  Distribute mixture between 2 large cake pans and/or bakers that are lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown - being sure to stir EVERY 10 minutes.

NOTE:  If you want even more energy from your granola add a Tablespoon of soaked and barely sprouted sunflower seeds to individual servings of granola.  It's a great way to get added enzymes.