Mike's Favorite Granola

We love anything with oats at our house.  When my kids were little they would ask for a bowl of dry oats and sugar!  They also loved horses so maybe they were just trying to act the part.  I have one child that acted like a horse for about a year of her life.  She would wake up and whinny, then gallop on all fours around the house and yard all day.  She actually got really good at galloping.  She would even sound like a galloping horse!  Anyway, I know that's a little strange and yes, I was worried about her but now she's a healthy, normal ten-year-old who never whinnies or neighs at all.  So the bowl of dry oats and sugar has evolved into Mike's Favorite Granola, since my husband has always loved it.  I've replaced the oil that most granolas have with applesauce and added some rice crispies to make it a little less dense and heavy.  This granola is light, crunchy and sweet.  Just add any dried fruits or nuts your family likes and enjoy as cereal or with granola or frozen yogurt.

In a large bowl combine:

7 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned, I use some of both)
1 cup wheat bran (not wheat germ, it has too much fat)
1 cup oat bran
1/2 tsp. salt

In another small bowl combine:

1 cup brown sugar (or brown splenda)
1/2 cup applesauce
3/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 cup apple juice or water
1/2 T vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix the wet ingredients together then add to the bowl of oats.  Mix until combined, then add 4 cups of rice crispy cereal.  Mix until everything is wet.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, then, turn it all over with a spatula to mix it around and bake for about another12-15 minutes.  Turn off the oven and let it sit in there for another 5-7 minutes.  You want it to be slightly crunchy when you take it out of the oven but not too crunchy because it will harden more as it cools.  Add all the good stuff and enjoy!