Sunday 21 July 2013

Maple Apple Quinoa Granola



I haven't blogged in a while. There were pangs of self pity going around. We all want to be successful. But we all can't be. Especially if we give up. Get over it. Enough said. 

This granola makes getting up in the morning a lot less harder. And that is coming from me, someone who feels physically unwell when the alarm goes off. 

And actually I have eaten this granola at many times during the day. It's so good that I find it impossible to leave alone (we had to introduce a granola ban because we were going through so much of it). The addition of quinoa makes the granola much more fluffy and light than the traditional oat granola with a satisfying extra crunch. 

Gwynnie uses all quinoa in her granola but I think post iron man pay check probably justifies this - dang quinoa is expensive! Back in the real (can't wait til payday also known as angry as how much tax I pay day) world I made a cost saving addition by  using 1/3 granola and 2/3 oats. Still irresistible.

Adopted from a Gwyneth Paltrow recipe
1 2/3 cup porridge oats 
1/3 cup quinoa 
1 tsp cinnamon  
2 eating apples 
1/2 cup maple syrup 
1/2 cup sunflower oil 

Additions 
3/4 cup dried fruit of choice- including sultanas, raisins, prunes, apricots, dried figs etc. etc. 
1/2 cup mixed seeds 
4 tablespoons of chia seeds (optional) 

1. Rinse the quinoa until the water runs clear and then drain thoroughly. Put in a big bowl with the porridge oats, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix well. 
2. Dice the apples and throw in with the oats/quinoa. 
3. Mix the maple syrup and oil together until well blended. Throw into the dry mixture and mix throughly. 
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 180oC turning and mixing about 3 times to make sure it browns evenly. When cool add in your fruit, nuts and chia seeds, if using.