This month
has been a little cooler and a little slower.
A big part
of the ‘slower’ has been me trying to refocus my time. Less trying to ‘make
more’ time for things as if I can possibly conjure up more hours in the day
from deep within the earth and more ‘taking time out for things’, only a slight
difference but a world of difference in my head.
Most certainly
a more realistic approach.
So I am
spending more time in the garden, which relaxes me somehow, having more coffees
at home instead of braving cafes with an overly energetic toddler. Then there’s
taking slow walks with the wee one around the block, (usually stealing flowers
from the neighbors) instead of packing lunches and taking car trips to parks.
I’m even allocating more time during the day to the basics like housework instead
of trying cram it all in just before bed.
Mostly it’s
just going out less and staying in more.
Oh, and then
there is breakfast.
Yes,
breakfast.
And by that
I mean actually eating breakfast rather than just thinking about it.
While it is
my favorite meal of the day it is also my most abandoned meal. But that’s
motherhood right?
In an
attempt to correct that though, I have joined in with those doing the Cooking
Cure via the Kithcn, to push my home cooking habits back towards a healthier
mark. I figure the only way to really stop my meal skipping is to get inspired
again.
And so, I
bring you granola.
Actually
granola’s.
Plural.
Whatever the
plural for granola is……granoli?
Ahem, I
bring you two recipes for granola (better?)
The first is
a raw sprouted granola from Green Kitchen Stories- but I need to add a note
that I very stupidly overlooked. If you are from a crazy hot or humid climate,
you may find that your sprouts, like mine, ferment very quickly.
Take two of
this recipe was done in only four hours instead of the recommended 36-48 hours.
I think
these guys are based in Sweden? Need I say more?
The second granola was less a recipe and more a pantry
raid/sneaky appetite trick.
I know from experience that eating something small and sweet
can kick start my appetite. I’m sure there is something scientific there about
stimulating saliva glands, but that aside, the thought of something small and
sweet can lure me into sitting down to a meal instead of getting distracted by
other duties. For breakfast, it has to be granola. This recipe is a little
loose, like I said it was more of a pantry raid than an actual recipe. Half
packets of nuts, chopped and thrown together with handfuls of whatever else I
could find floating in the cupboard and tossed with warm maple syrup and mixed
spice, roasted and voila’! Homemade granola.
Now to work on lunches………..
Maple nut granola.
I love granola but can’t
eat too much, especially first thing in the morning. A tablespoon or two on top
of muesli and fruit or Greek yoghurt and fruit salad is my favorite way to eat
it.
Approx. 2 cups of mixed nuts (I used mostly hazelnuts, with
some almonds and pistachios to mix it up)
Half a cup of coconut
A third of a cup of sesame seeds
Mixed spice to taste
Half a cup of pumpkin seeds/mixed seeds
Half a cup of oats
Two tablespoons of brown sugar
8 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt to taste.
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees (Celsius)
Soak pumpkin seeds and coconut for one hour
Roughly chop nuts, mix with sesame seeds, mixed spice, oats, brown sugar and drained pumpkin seed mix.
Heat maple syrup and oil in a saucepan until combined
pour over and stir through granola mixture. Spread mixture out on baking tray and put in oven and roast till golden (stirring regularly)
Remove and season- allow to cool before breaking up and storing.
