Peanut Butter Power Food Granola

You read that right. Throw your Cliff Bars away (really), I've got something better for you.



Granola was the Milli Vanilli of 80's health food - a total fake out. Somehow it was touted a  "health" food even though it was almost always full of of crapola: added sugar, saturated fat, and hydrogenated oils. Luckily for you, this granola is packed with the good shiz: chia seeds, quinoa, oats, and flax or hemp (you really don't need both).  And relax, I didn't forget the best part - peanut butter. A word of warning: though healthy, granola by nature is calorie dense, so don't go crazy stuffing handful after handful down your gullet.

I have a half cup or so of this with some homemade almond milk before my long runs...or whenever the mood strikes me. The complex carbs are good for sustained energy and it has enough protein to make this  junkie happy. It's also super yummy sprinkled on top of Greek yogurt or on top of non-dairy banana ice cream  if you're having a moment of sorts.

Hey, it happens.

On a side note, did you know cha-cha-cha chia seeds have 11 grams of fiber, 5 grams of Omega 3, 20 grams of Maganese,  and nearly 20% of your daily calcium in a 1-oz serving?  They're like the He-Man of seeds. More on Chia +its friends Hemp & Flax later.



Feel free to play with the ingredients and adjust to your liking:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats


• ½ cup uncooked quinoa


• ½ cup ground flax seed or ⅓ cup hulled hemp seeds


• ¼ cup chia seeds


• 2 cups assorted nuts of choice, roughly chopped (I used walnuts and almonds)


• ½ cup nut butter of choice


• If you like it sweet, ½ cup raw honey or pure maple syrup. Personally, I usually prefer this unsweetened, but I've taste-tested this & I'm in the minority.


• 3 Tbsp. melted coconut oil


• 1 tsp. vanilla


• Optional add ins: ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs, dried fruit, unsweetened coconut, go to town.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F/150°C and line a large baking tray with parchment paper**


2. Combine the oats, quinoa, seeds, nuts and additional add ins (minus the choc chips if you use them - you'll add these at the end). Stir together.


3. Combine nut butter, honey/syrup, coconut oil and vanilla and stir together until fully combined.


4. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients  (I microwaved my nut butter mix for about 20 seconds to melt it down a bit) and toss together well.


5. Lay the granola out flat (<- important, it won't crisp properly otherwise) on the baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 min, stirring around every 10 minutes, until golden brown and toasty.


6. Allow to cool slightly and stir in the chocolate chips.


7. Store in an airtight container.

** If you didn't know this already (I'm sure you do), waxed paper does not make a suitable alternative to parchment paper. Trust. Your house will fill with smoke, the alarm will go off, and your dog will lose his %hit. Your husband might get really irritated if he's on an important work call. Oh and you'll burn the granola. Just thought you should know.

Enjoy!

XO

Meg