Homemade Granola

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For some time I have been experimenting with making my own granola. Since ditching cereal out of a box, I wanted an alternative breakfast cereal that tasted delicious and was whole food based.

Making your own is easier than you think

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Oats (quinoa flakes for gluten free)
  • 1 cup Almonds chopped
  • 1/2 cup Pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cup Sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup Cashews or any other nut of choice chopped
  • 2 cups Flaked coconut
  • 1 cup Currents
  • 1 cup Ningxia Wolfberries
  • 1/4- 1/3 cup Coconut oil (melted)
  • 1-2 drops Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Wholefood Collective has bulk wholefoods at great prices! (aff link)

Method

In a bowl combine oats, coconut, nuts, seeds.

Drizzle dry ingredients with coconut oil and roast on trays for 60mins at 120 degrees. A long slow roast will produce lovely crispy granola.

Once done return granola in mixing bowl add cinnamon bark essential oil and dried fruit. Mix well. Cool and store in glass jars.

For a plain granola omit the coconut oil and add dried fruit and you are done!

Store in Glass jars in the pantry and enjoy with your preferred milk and yoghurt.

This is a large batch and lasts our family of 5 at least a week. The great thing is that you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. Pecans and 1/2 tsp vanilla powder make a great addition too. It would however make a lovely gift!

Note

Ningxia Wolfberries (Lycium barbarum)

The wolfberries sourced for NingXia Red hail from the Ningxia province in Northern China. This superfruit has one of the highest percentages of fiber of any whole food and contains zeaxanthin—a carotenoid important to maintaining healthy vision. It also contains polysaccharides, amino acids, and symbiotic vitamin mineral pairs that when present together promote optimum internal absorption.1

There are a number of studies 2, 3 demonstrating the positive effects of the Ningxia wolfberry. Delaying optic nerve degeneration and reducing ischaemic brain injury by maintaining mitochondrial balance both confirm the long standing thought of the people from the Ninxia province in China for supporting our health

Young Living also produce a Ningxia infused drink Ningxia red, that is not only delicious but a easy method for the whole family to enjoy. A 60ml daily dose for adults and 30ml for children to provide an array of health promoting anti-oxidants.

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil a registered culinary oil. It is important you only use a very small amount as it is strong. 1-2drops are plenty. It has a delicous flavour and aroma when added to dishes. It should always be added at the end of cooking. For more great ideas using Essential oils in your cooking visit Young Living blog for a fabulous apple cinnamon chip recipe and Flavour of Joy website and follow Chef kate McAloon use these delicous oils in her recipes.

 

Get started with Young Living with a Culinary Essential Oil starter kit (basic $69 premium $244)  here

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Sources

  1. http://ningxiared.com/benefits/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28807155
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28808422

What is your Dream?

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I dream that we will no longer sell Junk- chips and Lollies in hospital waiting rooms. I dream that my children will not be offered soft drink at every sporting event. I dream that everyone will think twice about using personal products laden with chemcials on their skin. I dream that toxic chemicals will need to be proven safe before being sold. I dream that Organic food will be called food and the pesticide food  will be labelled accordingly.I dream babies won’t have in excess of 200 chemicals in their umbilical chord blood when born. I could go on but I think you get the idea. This is something that I can’t let go of. Once you have the knowledge it is hard to ignore. Please educate yourself, clean out your cupboards, take it all to the tip and ask how to safely dispose of it. Once you change, you will not look back. Your health will thank you for it.

Sometimes this is overwhelming and I certainly felt that way but I recommend replacing one thing at a time. Make the best choice everytime you buy. Remember you are voting with your dollar!

Unfortunately the big supermarkets don’t care about our health. You will need to look else where. I am not saying don’t shop there at all. All fruit and veg is better than No fruit and veg but always search for the best option.

Here are a list of some of my favourite online stores/apps/shops that are doing their bit to make the world a better place.

Nourished Life Online store for make-up and personal products

Bulk Wholefoods Online store for ordering organic and pesticide free wholefoods, personal care products too. Australia wide delivery.

Chemical Maze This is an App which lets you see what additives, preservatives and chemicals are in your food and personal products and cleaners. Search by name and number. This has been a great educational tool when shopping with my kids.

Think Dirty This is a free App. Scan barcoded products to check for ingredients. Not all Australian products are on here but they are adding more all the time.

The Food garden if you live in Central Victoria consider having a seasonal fruit and veg box delivered to your home. They are now donating half their profits to local farmers to encourage organic farming! How good is that.

Young Living essentail Oils No pesticides used in the growing of the plants used to produce their oils. They can effectively and safely be used to clean your home and replace many other products. Young Living thieves household cleaner is the best product I have ever used to clean my bathroom and benches. They have a range of personal care products from shampoos to deoderants and a kids range too. If this is something you are interested in please email belindajforsyth@gmail.com or call 0433589675 to discuss how I can help you.

Biome Fabulous online store with the best lunch boxes around. Natural cleaning products and all things eco.

Daylesford Health food and Organics a drive up the road from Ballarat, but a great selection and great prices. Also makes for a great lunch stop.

If I can encourage you to make a better choice that will be my reality, no longer a dream.

Belinda

 

Note: some of these links are affiliate links and I may receive a small comission at no cost to you,should you decide to purchase