Hot Granola

For the Granola

• 2 cups oatmeal, preferably long-cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 to 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup honey, maple syrup or 1/2 cup brown sugar dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons corn or other vegetable oil, preferably not canola
• 2 cups total of any combination of coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, shelled unsalted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, wheat germ
• 1 cup dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries, cherries, mango, pineapple or apricots (chop larger fruits into small dice)

To serve

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup prepared granola

1. In a large bowl, stir together oatmeal, coconut and salt. In a small bowl, combine honey and corn oil until very well blended. Pour over the oatmeal mixture and mix well by hand.
2. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Line a 15"x10" rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Spread the oatmeal-honey mixture evenly over the parchment and place pan in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
3. Stir nuts into the mixture and bake for 5-10 more minutes, until the granola becomes a light golden brown.
4. Allow granola to cool. Place dried fruit in a large bowl. Stir in granola. Store at room temperature in a tightly covered container.
5. To make hot granola, for each serving, bring one cup of milk to a simmer. Stir in 1/2 cup of prepared granola and simmer until thickened, adjusting the amount of granola or milk to reach the desired consistency. Scoop into bowls and garnish with additional granola.