Easy Granola

8 cups oats

2 cups shredded or flaked coconut

2 cups chopped nuts

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

3/4 cup oil (I use coconut)

1 T. cinnamon

1 t. almond extract

optional: dried fruit added after baking

Preheat oven to 325. Combine oats, coconut, and nuts in a large mixing bowl. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Pour syrup over oat mixture and mix until well coated. Pour into two shallow baking pans and spread out. Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the mixture is evenly browned. Remove and cool on pans without stirring to maintain clumpiness. Store in an airtight container (or freeze for longer storage). 

From Leila Lawler