GRANOLA WITH BLOOD ORANGE OLIVE OIL, COCONUT, CHERRIES, AND CASHEWS

Hello! And Happy New Year! At the outset of every new year, health is on the lips of just about everyone. Resolutions are made... and often times broken. One of my resolutions this year is to eat more delicious food which also happens to be heart-healthy. Today's posts will demonstrate that health and exquisite flavor are not mutually exclusive. And as usual, my recipes are merely a template or springboard for your creativity. Know that you will achieve fun, flavor, and success adapting these recipes to include the myriad of other olive oils, and or vinegars at your disposal! Bon Appetit!

6 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup cashews or (almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts)

1 cup unsweetened large flake coconut

1 cup dried fruit (I used cherries) but you can use blueberries, dates, raisins, cranberries... etc.

1/2 cup Tarpon Springs Olive Oil Company Blood Orange Olive Oil (Even try TSOOC Lemon, Lime, Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil etc.)

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix together the first four dried ingredients and spread out in to an even layer over the lined baking sheet.

In a medium pot set over low heat, or in your microwave gently warm the honey so that it becomes more fluid. Whisk the olive oil in to the warm honey along with the vanilla. It won't emulsify, but that's alright.

Even drizzle the honey-olive oil mixture over the oats on the baking sheet. Toss everything gently to coat as much of the oats with honey and olive oil as possible. Redistribute in to an even layer and pop in to the oven on the middle rack.

Every 10 minutes for about 1/2 hour, check and stir the granola, the honey and olive oil with continue to coat the remainder of the granola as you do this. When the granola is fragrant and golden brown, remove it from the oven and stir it one last time to ensure even distribution of olive oil and honey.

Allow it to cool and store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Makes approximately 9 cups (9 servings of granola)