AWESOME HOMEMADE GRANOLA

Awesome Homemade Granola
I adapted this from a recipe on USAWeekend.com and couldn't stop eating it...
Took two tries to get it right, but it was worth it!

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 TBS brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut (optional--I omitted)
1/3-2/3 cup Craisins (I added 2/3 since I omitted coconut) or raisins
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
3 TBS canola oil
1 TBS water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla (if adding honey instead of maple syrup)
1/8-1/4 tsp maple extract (if adding honey instead of maple syrup)

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 275 F. Spray a 9x13 metal pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Mix together oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt, and chopped walnuts. Bring honey or syrup, oil, water, cinnamon, and vanilla and maple (if using honey) to low simmer. Drizzle this over oat mixture and stir well. Pour into greased pan and work with hands to "clump" cereal (don't worry if it doesn't clump much--it will after it cooks and cools). Bake for about 20 minutes. Sprinkle dried fruit and coconut flakes (if desired) over the top and mix lightly. Bake for 5-10 more minutes (until golden-brown) and then let cool. I actually enjoyed it a little warm, but it clusters better as it cools! David thought it was really good with milk. There are a lot of other fruit-type and trail-mix variations depending on what you like to add. Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.