Super Low-Fat Granola Cereal

Yields 9 cups. | Prep time 15 minutes. | Bake 25 minutes. Cooling

Ingredients:

8 Cups old-fashioned oats

1 Cup raisins

1/2 Cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 Cup dried cranberries

1 1/2 Cups packed brown sugar

1/2 Cup water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. maple extract

1 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1.) In a large bowl, combine the oats, raisins, apricots and cranberries, set aside.

2.) In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until brown sugar ins dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in extracts. Pour over oat mixture, stir to coat.

3.) Transfer to two greased 15-in. X 10-in. baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until crisp, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

4.) Serve with milk or yogurt. Pretty pink, circa 1920 glass cereal bowls are optional.

Directional pictures from: http://blahtota-daa.blogspot.com

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 2 cups toffee baking bits

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda, stir into the creamed mixture. Then stir in the rolled oats. Finally, stir in the chopped candy bar pieces.
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets, and flatten slightly. Bake for 10 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven. Cookies will have a dry appearance when finished baking.

Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats
• 3 cups water
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Directions

1. Just before going to bed, combine the oats and water in a slow cooker. Set on Low, cover, and let cook overnight. In the morning, stir in the salt and half-and-half. Scoop into bowls, and sprinkle brown sugar over the top.