Breakfast starts my day and puts me in the right mood…so it’s important that it looks delicious, tastes good and energizes me! My solution…granola! Granola is not only healthy but it is also fun to make and allows you to get creative with different nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Your kids can also join in; I’m sure they will enjoy mixing the ingredients with their hands!

There are many recipes out there, each one with its own “something special”. In my recipe below, I use extra virgin coconut oil because I like how it gives the granola the rich, nutty taste of coconut. It also has many health benefits …wow, I can eat a lot of this without having to feel guilty!

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups raw, whole rolled oats (none of the instant stuff)

• 0.5 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

• 0.5 cup melon seeds

• 0.25 cup pumpkin seeds

• 0.5 cup dried fruit (I used a combo of cranberries and raisins)

• 3 tbsp.extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO)

• 2-3 tbsp. golden syrup or honey

• Healthy pinch of fine sea salt.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 150C.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well using clean hands (this helps the coconut oil to melt). Combine with the golden syrup and coat all the other ingredients.
3. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. If the edges start to brown first, take it out of the oven and stir with a spatula and bake again till evenly toasted and golden brown.
4. Cool before serving or storing. Keeps well in an airtight container stored in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.

Lovely eaten with yoghurt, honey or maple syrup, or fresh fruit. Sometimes I also top it with shavings of chilled EVCO. Here are some breakfast ideas using granola: kiwi fruit, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, coconut oil shavings, and avocado. Enjoy!

_{This post was first published on Intimate Suppers blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author. Image from Celina Tan}

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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