3 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 c. maple syrup
1 c. dried apple bits (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Pour the oats on a cookie sheet and toast for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, mix the melted butter and maple syrup in a large bowl, and when the oats come out of the oven, pour them in with the liquids, and stir until the oats are uniformly coated.

Spoon the oats back onto the cookie sheet, and bake an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool, stirring every few minutes (if you don't stir there's a chance everything will stick together like a huge granola bar!).  When cooled, mix in the apple bits and voila! -- granola.

p.s. if not sticking to truly Localvore rules, other tasty additions to this recipe include sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sliced almonds, raisins, dried cranberries, and more!  You can also use 1/2 c. vegetable oil in place of the butter, or try it with honey instead of maple syrup (just beware that honey browns much faster than syrup).