Here's an easy, delicious granola recipe that has become a favorite with some of the teachers at my kids' school. We dressed it up a bit and added a bookstore gift card and a colorful spoon. Get the kids involved in this fun project.

Homemade Granola
Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup honey• 1/3 cup light brown sugar• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted• 1 tablespoon vanilla• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats• 1/3 cup wheat germ (optional)• 1/3 cup flaxseed (optional)• 1/3 cup hemp seed (optional)• 1 cup sliced or chopped almonds


Directions:
1. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Line two cookies sheets with foil. In a medium bowl, combine honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt.
2. In a large bowl, add oats, wheat germ, flax seed, hemp seed and nuts. Pour wet ingredients over the dry ones, and stir mixture until it's evenly blended.
3. Spread granola onto prepared sheets and bake for 15 minutes Stir to keep it from burning. Bake for another 15 minutes, then turn oven off. Bake for another five minutes and remove from oven. Allow it to cool completely on the pans, and then transfer to airtight container. Can be stored for up to four weeks.

Top a mason jar with a cupcake liner. Add a colorful spoon with some ribbon, a gift card, and a personal note.

Michele Aucello and her husband Kevin live in the Wilhelmina Rise area with their children Isabella and Luca, some chickens, and the occasional elf and leprechaun. You can reach Michele via email, Facebook, or via her personal blog, Leprechauntricks.com. You can also follow her on Pinterest, where she gets many of her ideas.