After this week’s granola frenzy, I don’t think I’ll ever buy packaged granola again. It’s incredibly easy to make on your own. All you need are five fingers to list the essentials of making great granola: old-fashioned oats, a flavorless oil (like canola or vegetable), wheat germ, a dash of salt, and honey. Use old-fashioned oats instead of quick-cooking to give your granola that delectable crunch. Beyond this, you can add whatever else you like—nuts, dried fruits, seeds, or even extra flavorings like cinnamon or maple syrup. My suggestion is to use whatever you have and buy only what you need.

Since I personally love to snack on almonds and banana chips, I thought I’d throw them into the mix to make “Banana Nut Crunch.” Doesn’t that just instantly make your mouth water? Here’s all the measurements I used:

The Recipe:

2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup honey
3 tbsp. canola oil

1 tbsp. water
1/4 cup chopped raw almonds
1/4 cup crushed banana chips

Where to shop:

I bought the old-fashioned oats, wheat germ, salt, and honey from Albertson’s. Honestly, that wasn’t the best idea. The Quaker oats and Kretschmer wheat germ alone cost me nearly $10. As for my almonds, banana chips, and oil, I bought them from Whole Foods for nearly $7, and had plenty left to spare. Just for the record, I don’t think whipping out $20 for a box of granola helps save money. The reason I paid so much is because I bought larger-sized packages of all my ingredients for later use throughout the year. My suggestion is to stay away from well-known packaged brands, and purchase most of your dry ingredients from the grocery bin section of Whole Foods, where you can scoop as much as you need into a bag.

For those who are on a really tight budget, the secret to saving money is learning to lend and borrow—or put more simply, learning to share! If you cannot find a single friend with a baking pan or some honey to spare, I suggest running over to Alpha where you’ll find plenty of girls armed with baking supplies.

Let’s get started:

The preparation time should take no longer than 15 minutes, and the actual cook time, 45 minutes. Start off by setting your oven rack in the middle position, preheating the oven to 275 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with something that will keep your granola from sticking to the bottom. I just poured a bit of canola oil and spread it with my fingers.

Next, start mixing the oats, wheat germ, and salt in a bowl. If you have any raw nuts and seeds, add them to the mix, but leave out the dried fruit. Adding them too early will just toughen the fruit and add a burned taste to the mix.

Combine the honey, oil, and water in a small saucepan and simmer over low heat. Pour the sugary sauce onto the dry ingredients and mix. Be sure to get the wet and dry ingredients mixed throughout.

The result should smell amazing. Pour the sticky mixture onto the prepared pan. Using your hands, squeeze the granola cereal to form small clusters. Bake for 30 minutes.

Stir in the dried fruit and continue to bake until golden brown, around 15 minutes longer. Let it cool and take in the aroma of a yummy job well done.

Add-ons:

There are a few variations you can try if you have certain preferences for your granola. For example, if you want to make low-fat granola by using less oil, try using applesauce to make up for the oil. I tried this myself using apples from the café to make my applesauce. Just take 2-3 apples of your preference; I used the Golden Delicious ones. Peel and cut them into wedges. Microwave them for about 6 minutes and then puree them using a whisk or a small blender. All the credit for this great idea goes to my friend Hannah.

For those who are allergic to gluten, try replacing the wheat germ with buckwheat flour. A friend and I baked some gluten-free granola this summer and it turned out to be a phenomenal success.

Next week, I’ll be making BBQ Chicken Pizza. Until then, enjoy your breakfasts!