Unlike most healthy people, I avoid breakfast, or at least eating at breakfast time, at all costs. After rising from the dead the last thing I want to do is consume something, but a few hours after the one and only thing that is always on my mind (except on Sundays) is a nice bowl of granola. I love it I love it I love it. Sometimes I have it with milk, sometimes yoghurt, and whenever I can with fresh berries (my favourite is blueberries, but as they are not in season, I stuck with what I could forage).
One day I looked on the pack to see what I was really eating, and cringed at the sight of the exorbitant amount of calories (thanks to the crazy amount of sugar) I was consuming with one bowl. So I decided to do a bit a research for recipes, and came up with this easy fusion for all to try.
Ingredients
3 cups of rolled oats
1 1/2 cup of Holland & Barrett's Omega Sprinkle
or [1 cup of pumpkin seeds & 1 cup of sunflower seeds]
1 cup of raw almonds [sliced or whole]
1/2 cup of cranberries
1 cup of coconut slices
1/4 cup of honey
1/4 cup of organic maple syrup
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or rose water
2 tablespoons of raw cocoa nibs [optional]
1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
Preheat oven to 130-150C | In a large bowl mix oats, omega mix (or seeds), 1/2 cup of almonds, cinnamon & nutmeg | In a saucepan gently warm oil, honey & or maple syrup [these can also be substituted with agave nectar] and extract | Pour wet ingredients into oats mixture and mix well | Spread mixture onto flat baking sheet and put into oven | Bake for 20-30 minutes [depending on how dark you like your granola, and how low your oven is set] | Stir every 10 minutes | For the last 10 minutes add coconut, cranberries, remaining almonds, and raw cacao nibs | Leave to cool for 40 minutes | Store in an airtight jar
Serve with seasonal fresh fruits, almond milk, natural greek yoghurt
(c) All Photos taken by the lovely Sabine Sabine (1/2 Vet, 1/2 amazing photographer)
