Crunchy Spice Granola

• 1 cup honey, the stronger and richer,the better (buckwheat, or other dark colored raw honey preferred)
• 12 cup applesauce
• 12 cup butter or 12 cup margarine (can be replaced by an additional 1/2 cup applesauce to reduce fat)
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 12 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 12 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
• 12 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 8 cups old fashioned oats (the coarser the better)
• 1 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 cup wheat bran (optional)
• 2 cups sliced almonds
• 2 cups pecan pieces
• 2 cups walnut pieces or 2 cups other nuts, of choice may be added or substituted
• 3 cups unsweetened dried shredded coconut, divided (preferably strips, not flakes)
• 1 -2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 -2 cup dried sour cherries
• 1 cup raisins or 1 cup dried currant
• 1 cup dried apricot, cut into 3/8 inch chunks
• 1 cup dried pineapple, cut into 3/8 inch chunks
• 1 cup dried dates or 1 cup dried banana chips (or both)

1. Anything else that might look good to you.
2. Additional quantities of any of the above.
3. Combine first nine ingredients, honey through salt, in a medium saucepan.
4. Simmer over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Taste, and adjust spices if desired; if your spices are old, you might have to add a little more.
6. Preheat oven to 175 degrees F.
7. Combine next six ingredients, oats through walnuts, plus half of the dried coconut and half of mixed dried fruit in a very large oven-proof bowl.
8. Toss thoroughly with warm honey mixture.
9. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring ever 15 minutes.
10. Add remaining coconut and dried fruit, and bake another 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, test for dryness (mixture should be fairly dry; bake a little longer if it isn't.
12. ), allow to cool completely, and seal in plastic bags.
13. Will keep for weeks at room temperature, months refrigerated (bring to room temperature before serving), and God only knows how long frozen.

honey, applesauce, butter, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground allspice, ground cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, salt, oats, toasted wheat germ, bran, almonds, pecan, other nuts, coconut, cranberries, sour cherries, raisins, apricot, pineapple, dates

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/crunchy-spice-granola-71381 (may not work)