Granola

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup maple syrup
• egg white or [flax egg], if you're not using the full 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups nuts and seeds (almond, cashew, walnut, pecan, sunflower, pumpkin)
• 1 cup dried fruit

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together the wet ingredients and salt in a large bowl. Fold in oats and nuts until thoroughly coated.

Transfer mixture to prepared baking sheet and spread evenly into thin layer. Using stiff metal spatula, compress mixture until very compact. Bake until lightly browned, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking.

Let granola cool in pan, about 1 hour, then break into pieces of desired size. Stir in dried fruit and store in an airtight container.

Other things you can add:

• Cocoa powder
• Cacao nibs
• Sesame seeds
• Coconut
• Flax seeds
• Spices - Cinnamon is the obvious one, but also ginger, cardamom, turmeric, nutmeg