Whew. Hump day’s over.
I don’t know about you, but I had a particularly never-ending day, which isn’t really like me. Maybe it’s because I didn’t really get my relaxation on this weekend, or maybe it’s just because I’m a little moody. But I’m so happy this day has finally ended. I also have fantastic dinner plans at The Plum Vegan Cafe here in Sac tonight with my vegan running group buddies, hooray for having mid-week plans to look forward to.
Anyway, time for food. Granola. Yum!
I posted a quick instagram shot of my coffee cup from Urth Caffe in Santa Monica on my LA weekend a couple weeks ago. What I didn’t take a picture of because I inhaled it before I got my camera out was the granola that I got. So delicious.
Fresh made. Full of cinnamon. Dried cranberries, blueberries, nuts and seeds.
Remake needed.
Dried blueberries needed. I used to love dried blueberries. I bought them at Costco. I put them in oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, or just ate them by the handful. Then I kind of forgot about them. Has this ever happened to you? How do you forget a food you loved?
Well, I did. But there were dried blueberries in this granola.
I went to Costco immediately upon my return and bought that familiar bag I had forgotten so I could remake this granola. But then I kept eating them by the handful, and yesterday morning went to pack a little baggy to bring with my lunch and my precious blueberries were almost gone! Must make granola tonight! Well, last night.
So here it is. Lots of blueberries (I would have added more but used up my supply.) Lots of cinnamon. Mmmm.
I love homemade granola because it’s the kind of thing you can throw together with what you already have in your pantry. If you’ve got some oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, spices, and sweetener, you’re set to go. So feel free to sub anything out – granola is very forgiving. Use whatever nuts, spices, dried fruit you have and like and you’ll have wonderful homemade granola.
serves 6
1 1/4 C rolled oats
1/2 C slivered blanched almonds
1/2 C raw walnuts, chopped
1/4 C flax seeds, ground
1/4 C chia seeds
1/3 C coconut oil, melted
1/3 C pure maple syrup
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
2 t ground cinnamon
small pinch ground nutmeg
small pinch salt
small pinch ground cardamom
1/2 C dried blueberries (or as many as you want! more more more!)
1/4 C dried cherries, chopped
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Combine everything except dried fruit in a large mixing bowl (the dried fruit gets too hard if you bake it – just mix it in at the end.) Allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes. The chia seeds and flax will get all gelatinous as they do, and make for even more clumpable (it’s a word. I just invented it.) granola. Spread granola mixture out evenly on a cooking sprayed baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, until golden brown.
It fills the air with sticky sweet maple syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon goodness like cookies!
Allow to cool a few minutes, then stir it together and pinch granola into clusters if you want them. But come on, who doesn’t want clusters in their granola? Seriously. I want names. Allow to cool completely.
This is just wonderful served like cereal with almond milk and a handful of fresh blueberries.
Nutrition facts per serving: Calories: 377; Calories from Fat: 232; Total Fat: 25.8g; Saturated Fat: 11.6g; Sodium: 5mg; Total Carbohydrates: 29.8g; Dietary Fiber: 7.2g; Sugars: 13.0g; Protein: 8.7g
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