Elizabeth's Dried Fruit And Nut Granola

8 cups toasted rolled oats (18-ounce container)

2 cups shelled pistachios (8-ounce bag)

1-2 cups pecans, roughly chopped or other favorite nut

2 cups raw pumpkin seeds (8 ounces)

1 cup packed sweetened dried coconut

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt

1/3 cup maple syrup

½ cup light brown sugar or maple sugar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups dried cherries (8-ounce bag)

2 cups dried cranberries or white raisins

2 cups candied ginger, cut into slivers

2 cups dried apricots cut into slivers, or other dried fruit as desired

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

In a very large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Stir well to blend.

In a small saucepan, warm the maple syrup, brown sugar and olive oil over low heat, stirring gently, until the sugar is melted. Stir to combine the sugar and oil.

Pour over the dry ingredients. Stir over-and-over again to coat all the ingredients equally. Spread the mixture evenly on a piece of parchment paper set into a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden. (Note: You will need to check the granola and stir it, about every 15 minutes so that all of the ingredients are toasted and brown.)

Set a timer to go off halfway through the baking time, so that you can give the granola a good stir; this helps it to cook evenly. When it's ready, remove the pan from the oven, and stir well - this will keep it from cooling into a hard, solid sheet - and cool completely.

When cool to touch, transfer the granola back to the very large bowl. Add the dried fruit and stir (or shake, if using a jar or bag) to mix. Store in an airtight container - storage jar, or re-closeable plastic bag.

Serve with yogurt, milk, honey and fruit, or eat straight up.

Makes 40, ½-cup servings

Nutrition information per serving: 308 calories; 112 calories from fat; 12 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 34 mg sodium; 45 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 26 g sugar; 7 g protein.