Simple homemade granola

I try to be as “green” as possible, so for 2 or three breakfasts a week I will have a thick green smoothie packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflamtories; spinach, cucumber, kiwi, spirulina, celery and lime with a large sprinkling of homemade granola. Sounds disgusting? I’m not going to lie, my first encountering with green juice was positively vile. I will never forget the fateful day I went in to a juice bar at lunch to buy my first green juice with a shot of wheatgrass on the side. The lady behind the counter had asked me if I “was sure” I wanted the shot on the side and not in the juice. Pretending to be some green wheatgrass connoisseur I said  “yes of course, I have it all the time”…… So, when the shot was in my hand a few minutes later and the eyes of the woman firmly on me, I just knocked it back. Before I could even swallow it, I gagged and continued to do so as I hauled myself past the long line of customers and out of the shop- never to return. The only way I can describe the taste was like eating a whole field of long grass over and over again – in a one shot glass. The taste was so strong that it did not leave me all afternoon and I have steered clear of wheatgrass shots since.

Granola for me is such a comforting addition to any smoothie, soup, salad or even on its own with some homemade almond milk. It’s shocking to see how widely promoted granola is as a “healthy” cereal. Not only is it packed with sugar + sugar + sugar, they then increase the sugar content even more by adding dried fruit or chocolate! So before you know it, it’s 8:30am and you are quite literally bouncing off the walls on a crazy sugar high. So here’s my moreishly crunchy granola alternative, no gluten, no dairy and no hidden sugar!

What you need:

(This lasts me for about 10 tbsp)

*1 cup mixed seeds (linseed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds)
*1 1/2 tsp coconut oil
*1/2 cup macadamia nuts and pecan nuts
*1 tsp raw honey (if you want it sweetened. If you are Vegan, use Maple Syrup or any other sweetener of your choice)

*NOTE: You can buy mixed bags of seeds from Sainsbury’s which incorporate pumpkin, sunflower, golden linseeds and sesame seeds (100g / £0.85)

Directions:

• Turn oven on to 180 degrees celsius
• In to a blender place the macadamia nuts, pecan nuts, coconut oil and half the seed mix
• Blend until roughly broken up (do not make it too fine)
• Place on to a baking tray with the rest of the seed mixed
• If you want to sweeten slightly, use 1 tsp raw honey (melt before hand) and drizzle on to granola mix
• Put in the oven for approx 10 minutes (max) or until fully toasted (do check after 5 minutes, shake the tray and put back in)

Serving idea:  2 tbsp in the bottom of a glass or bowl, fill up with smoothie and then sprinkle 1 tsp on to. Add fresh fruit or coconut if desired.

Suitable for: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo