Mom's Granola and Nikki's variation of Mom's Granola (and it's gluten free)

Mom's Granola
This is how my mom's original recipe reads in her published recipe book.  I've loved this recipe since I was a child.

Makes about 7 1/4 cups cereal.
Preparation time:  7 minutes
Baking time:  40 minutes

4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
1 cup blanched slivered almonds
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar (dissolved in melted butter)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (high-altitude 350 degrees).
2.  Mix, oats, wheat germ, almonds, coconut, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
3.  In a small saucepan, or in a glass bowl in the microwave, metl butter with salt and brown sugar, until sugar dissolves.  Add vanilla to dissoled sugar mixture; pour over mixture and stir until well coated.
4.  Lightly grease 9-by-13-inch and spread mixture in pan.
5.  Bake for approximately 40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until mixture begins to turn golden.
6.  Cool completely; store in an air-tight container.
7.  Serve cold with milk.

VARIATIONS:  (1) Substitute vegetable oil for butter; and honey for sugar.  (2) Omit any ingredient you dislike (with the exception of the oats!).

TIP:  If you like raisins, currants, or chopped dates, stir 1/2 cup to 1 cup of one or more after baking so they won't dry out.

These are the ingredients and amounts we use for really yummy gluten-free granola-- and we usually quadruple it.

Nikki's variation of Mom's Granola

4 1/2 cups GF rolled oats
2/3 - 3/4 cup ground flax (instead of wheat germ)
1 cup chopped raw almonds and sometimes chopped walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, or cashews
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 cup (1 cube) real butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar or raw honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup of raisins (added after baking)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (high-altitude 350 degrees).
2.  Mix, oats, wheat germ, almonds, coconut, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
3.  In a small saucepan, or in a glass bowl in the microwave, metl butter with salt and brown sugar, until sugar dissolves.  Add vanilla to dissoled sugar mixture; pour over mixture and stir until well coated.
4.  Lightly grease 9-by-13-inch and spread mixture in pan.
5.  Bake for approximately 40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until mixture begins to turn golden.
6.  Cool completely; add raisins and store in an air-tight container.
7.  Serve cold with milk.