Thrifty Recipe Swap - Snack Edition - Granola

I am loving the thrifty recipe exchange hosted at The Grocery Cart Challenge. Gayle is a genius! This week there is a "frugal snack" theme. I can't wait to share my favorite granola recipe with you - but first I have to point you to her terrific recipe for homemade microwave popcorn that all three of my children are raving about. Not only is it frugal - but it is healthy. I got freaked out a few months ago when I read a report about workers in the microwave popcorn plants getting cancer from breathing in the powder used as butter flavoring. My kids love the real butter and how it is spread evenly over ALL of the popcorn! Good job Gayle! That recipe is a definite keeper!
Here's my recipe:

Homemade Maple Granola

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. salt
4 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. maple extract or Mapline
1/2 cup dried fruit (optional)
1/2 cup nuts or seeds (optional)
Melt butter, sugar and water. Let simmer 2-3 minutes. Add salt, oats and cinnamon and maple extract. Remov from pot and stir. Spread in a thin even layer over a lightly buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

I like to double this recipe - and we like our granola VERY dry and not sticky so I probably bake mine for twice as long. I also might try this in the crock pot as I have seen several crock-pot granola recipes. The expense is in the nuts - but you can use leftovers from other recipes, and throw in other fun things like M&Ms or chocolate chips. Dried cranberries are especially good with the maple flavor.