Is it just me, or has humble granola’s reputation gotten…..hippie-ish?

Not that there is anything wrong with hippies. I am a self proclaimed semi-hippie. I make all of my own jams. I make my own nut butters. I’m left-winged and socially aware.  I’m uber open-minded.  I like organic produce and farmers markets. I wanna run wild in a meadow with my hair in a million braids and flowy clothes. Okay, now I’m just getting stereotypical.

But. I love love love natural living. It makes me feel good. That’s the life I wanna lead.

Growing up in a fast paced, traffic laden, loud, dance club lingering, fancy stuff studded environment has made me wanna trade all of that in for a garden, homemade…everything, music, tea, dinner parties, mason jars up the wazoo, and board games.

Do you feel the same? Maybe, maybe not. Nonetheless, hippie or not, this granola is yum-town. It feels like tiny little crystals of earthy sweetness erupting in your mouth from all over. The olive oil adds a different dimension. The pistachios add, well, what don’t they add “good” to? Coconut? Maple syrup? All toasty? What isn’t positive about this?

What I know is positive is living the way you wanna live. This granola should be your first step.

Olive Oil Granola with Pistachios and Dried Cherries

Adapted from the New York Times

Notes: this recipe is very easy to tweak to your liking. Use whatever nuts, dried fruits, and sweeteners you have on hand. Also, in regards to serving, I like to eat this plain as a snack or on top of Greek yogurt. It can also be eaten as a cereal with milk. But, my favorite favorite way of eating it, which is pure heaven in a (small) bowl, is over ricotta cheese, with extra raisins and a drizzle of molasses. That’s taking it to the next level. Those components are not all needed, I know, but that’s how I roll.

Ingredients

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (make sure they are labeled gluten-free)

1 cup sunflower seeds (raw is better here too)

1 cup shredded coconut or coconut chips

3/4 cup pure maple syrup (honey can be substituted)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup chopped dried cherries

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, combine oats, pistachios, sunflower seeds, coconut, maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown and well toasted.

Transfer granola to a large bowl and add cherries, tossing to combine.