Preheat oven to 300°F
In a large bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, cinnamon.
In a small bowl, stir together oil, honey, salt and vanilla.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the oat mixture. Stir well until everything is evenly coated. If using, stir in the chopped nuts.
Spread the mixture on an ungreased baking sheet and place it in the oven.
Stir every fifteen minutes. After about 45 minutes, remove from the oven. The granola should be a rich golden brown. Let cool on the counter. The granola will clump and cluster together as it cools. Add any dried fruit once it is cool.
Once cool, store in an airtight container at room temperature. It will keep for about two weeks. One recipe fits perfectly into a pint-sized mason jar.