Almond Fruit Granola and Parfait

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  It was a beautiful weekend in South Florida, still hard to believe it’s cold in other parts of the country.  I’m actually in the Newark airport awaiting my flight to Hong Kong and it’s a chilly 30 degrees out there.  Makes me glad I’m inside and also makes me wish the South Florida warm sunshine.  The good thing I guess is that I’m only stopped over a small time before my plane to Hong Kong takes off where I’ll be spending 16 hours on a plane.  Something in all honesty I’m not looking forward to but I’m hoping I can catch some much needed rest and also catch up on some movies I haven’t seen.  I’m really praying for sleep, but that may be hard since I’ve never been a “plane” sleeper.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  So I’ll be spending the next 16 days away from home and traveling throughout China for work.  I’m very sad to be leaving home and the people that bring sunshine to my life every day.  With that being said I’m hoping the next 16 days go by very quickly so I can get back home to my rays of sunshine…my family!

Don’t worry eventhough I’ll be miles away I still plan on updating you all with some yummy recipes along the way and filling you in on my adventures through China.  I’m not officially in China now but here is my first recipe I’ll be sharing with you while I’m away, a healthy Almond Fruit Granola.  I actually made this to take along with me on my trip so I can have not only on my 16-hour flight but also on my 16 day trip to munch on and keep me going.  This yummy granola is packed with good for ingredients and is sure to keep you full and not feeling too guilty due to it’s healthy ingredients.  A great snack and a great option for breakfast in a parfait which is actually what I enjoyed for my breakfast yesterday. 

I hope you enjoy and I’ll be back later this week for another recipe and all from China. 

Almond and Fruit Granola

Print Recipe

2 cups rolled oats

1/3 cup pecans, chopped

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup ground flax seed

2/3 cup whole roasted almonds

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon grape seed oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Combine oats through nutmeg in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, combine grapeseed through salt and mix well.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir together until granola is well coated.

Layer granola evenly on prepared baking sheet.  Bake 20 minutes.  Remove and stir and then bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.

Allow granola to cool completely.  Then stir in cranberries, blueberries, and chocolate chips. 

Makes about 4 cups of granola.

Granola Parfait

3 cups low fat yogurt (Flavor of Choice – I used vanilla coconut yogurt)

1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries or fruit of choice

1 1/2 to 2 cups Almond Fruit Granola (depends on how much granola you like in your parfait)

Instructions:

Using four 16‑ounce glasses, spoon 1/4 cup of the yogurt-honey mixture into each glass, then top with 1/3 cup of the berries, followed by 3 tablespoons of the granola. Repeat the layering process two more times with the remaining yogurt, berries, and granola. Serve and enjoy!