Homemade Healthy Granola

This makes a huge batch, but it keeps in a sealed container for a few weeks, and I always end up giving half away because my friends and family all love it so much.  It makes a great gift for a hostess, a sick friend, or just for any occasion when you are paying a visit or having a guest and want to give them a little something!  I love coconut oil in this recipe for its flavour and for its healthy fats and brain strengthening power.  I also use maple syrup because it is high in iron and other minerals, and is also delicious!

Ingredients:

5 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
1 cup any combination of the following: wheat germ, wheat bran, ground flax seed, quinoa flakes
1 cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups any combination of the following: chopped walnuts or pecans, slivered almonds (don't use sliced, they burn), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or any kind of nuts you like or have on hand
1 cup coconut oil (you could use canola oil)
1 cup maple syrup (you could use honey or even corn syrup or a combination)
2 cups dried fruit: I love raisins, cranberries and apricots but you can use whatever you like or have.
1 cup hemp seeds
parchment paper

1. In a large bowl combine the first 6 ingredients, stirring to combine and distribute all the ingredients.  
2. In a microwaveable container such as a glass measuring container, combine the coconut oil and syrup and microwave for about a minute, stirring a few times until it all comes together into an emulsion.
3. Pour the oil and syrup mixture over the oat mixture in three additions, stirring well after each addition to make it is well distributed and all the dry ingredients are dressed lightly in the liquid.
4. Spread onto 3 or 4 large cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until it is crispy and beginning to brown.  I have a convection oven so I cook all the pans at the same time, but you could bake one pan at a time, or just switch the positions of the pans in the oven when you take them out to stir. 
5. When the granola is golden and crunchy, remove it from the oven and sprinkle over the dried fruit and hemp seeds, then allow to cool before stirring it all together again to break it up.  Store in airtight containers or freezer bags.