This tasty granola is so simple to throw together.  I’m talking 10 minutes- tops, from recipe to bowl to oven.  Ideally you should let it cool before eating, but you probably won’t be able to wait that long… the whole family will be munching away as soon as it comes out of the oven!  The aroma and flavor are reminiscent of banana bread… try it out as a topping for vanilla yogurt or ice cream!

3 cups oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or sliced almonds)
3 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
½ tsp cinnamon
1 ripe banana
4 tbsp coconut oil, or canola
6 tbsp honey, or agave nectar

Preheat oven to 325˚.  Mix oats, nuts, seeds and cinnamon together in a bowl.  Place the banana, oil and honey in a blender or Bullet and puree until smooth.  Pour the banana mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread granola out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown.  Watch the granola closely the last 5-10 minutes as it could burn quickly.  Remove from oven and let cool. 

Optional:  mix in unsweetened shredded coconut before baking; mix in chopped dried bananas and/or mini chocolate chips after granola has cooled.