Snow and Granola

We got snowed in and like the rest of my office I decided to work from home. As you can imagine I was really excited about spending my commuting hour on making something yummy to eat. The question was what? I was thinking about oatmeal, but as I rummaged through my pantry, I couldn't find any steal-cut oats. But I did find a jar of rolled oats and some sliced almonds. The toasty smell of grannola suddenly filled my imagination. If William & Sonoma made a candle with a "B&B" fragrance, this is what it would smell like.

Cherry Almond Granola

Serves 6

2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp maple syrup (or additional 1 Tbsp brown sugar)
4 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
pinch of salt
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup dried sour cherries

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Line a large rimmed cookie sheet with foil.
3. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, except for cherries, and mix well.
4. Spread granola on a cookie sheet in a thin layer and bake for 10 minutes in the middle of the oven. Mix and redistribute granola and bake another 4-7 minutes or until almonds are golden brown.
5. Remove from the oven and mix in cherries. Cool completely and store in an air-tight container.