My brother emailed me mid-breakfast to say: he and [my 7 year old niece] Lily were enjoying my homemade granola---and Lily would like the recipe. I had given all of my siblings a little stash of homemade goodies for Christmas, and my homemade granola was part of each gift. This versatile granola recipe with raisins is not only easy to make, but I venture to bet: better than any store-bought granola. For you, Lily Kate:

Granola4 cups oats 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds 1/2 cup brown sugar pinch salt pinch cinnamon 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup oil 2 tsp vanilla optional: raisins, dried cranberries/cherries/blueberries/apple Oven to 300 degrees. In large bowl mix first five ingredients. In a small bowl, blend honey, oil and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and stir to blend. Spread in big pan and place in oven for 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Keeps for a week sealed at room temp, or frozen up to 3 months.

Note: I had the distinct pleasure of being one of California Raisin Marketing Board's select Blog Ambassadors this year. I have been inserting raisins into recipes for the past few months---with great results. I have a new found affection for raisins, you could say (with Valentine's Day coming and so forth): I heart raisins. And my family hearts this granola.

My other raisin recipes: raisin pumpkin bread, raisin-studded blue cheese coleslaw, rum raisin cookies and 5 raisins dessert recipes.