Christmas Quinoa Granola

I made granola just one time before now. I got it all wrong. Some bits were soft, some bits were burnt - nothing like what my sister had made. Definitely nothing like what Tesco had made. I decided that I just couldn't make granola and gave up. That was it. Until now.

This week I was inspecting the array of cereals on the breakfast table, you know, as you do. Since I have been cutting out extra sugar from my diet in the lead up to Christmas, I was inspired to try again at granola - and make one without any added sugar. Isn't it annoying when something potentially healthy AND delicious is laden with so much crap? I was impressed to see the only sweet addition to Dorset Cereal's honey granola was, well, honey. The ingredients listed were things I could find in the kitchen anyway, so I thought I'd have another go. Thus began my extensive research on the world wide web for the best granola recipes. What would make the perfect 'healthier' granola - and Christmas granola at that? This time I was determined to succeed.

Do I really need to explain what I mean by Christmas granola? When I was making this I was taken back to Christmas school holidays, watching my mum make mince tarts and Christmas pudding in the kitchen, listening to radio four while I watched TV. The kitchen filled with a warm scent of spice; of home, like the comfort of fresh logs on a fire and soft socks warming your feet.

When baked and covered in honey and spiced deliciousness the nuts add a truly exceptional flavour and texture to the granola.

Why I picked almonds and brazil nuts: 

1. Almonds are great for skin, hair and nails. Tick, tick, tick. 
2. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium which is a mineral that maintains a good mood and helps prevents depression. It's also one of those nuts that all the celebrities eat because it's so great, apparently.
3. They were the only nuts I could find in the house. 

I added quinoa because, well, this recipe said to. And I thought, yes. Oh yes. I love quinoa, and I love granola - the two together are sure to be a match made in heaven. Turns out quinoa baked in the oven is just as nice, if not nicer than quinoa cooked in water. It is crunchy and seed like, and there's something satisfying about that kind of texture. Not to mention how bloomin' good it is for you; a protein that contains all nine of the essential amino acids as well as being packed with iron and other essentials - what's not to love?

Just be sure to rinse the quinoa before use. It has a bit of a weird bitter taste to it otherwise.

Recipe for Christmas Quinoa Granola - adaptation of Ali's Quinoa Granola recipe from Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of jumbo oats
• 1/2 cup of uncooked quinoa
• 3 tbsp runny honey
• 2 tbsp nut butter of your choice - I used hazelnut butter.
• 1/4 cup of slivered or roughly chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup of roughly chopped brazil nuts
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• Handful of chopped dried apricots
• Handful of raisins

Method: 

1. First, put your oven on at 175°C.

2. Combine oats, quinoa and nuts in a large bowl.

3. Add the spices, nut butter and honey and combine until everything is mixed nice and evenly.

4. Spread the mixture out onto a lined baking tray and pop into the oven for ten minutes. Take the granola out of the oven and stir it around a bit, then pop back into the oven for another ten minutes.

5. It should look nice and brown when it's done. Now let it cool. Try not to eat it all before the fruit is added. I know it's hard.

6. When the granola is cool, add the fruit and put into a container. Give it a good shake (or stir) so everyone gets a bit of everything. Mm mmm.

I'm not one to count calories, but I am keen on cutting down my sugar intake and experimenting with healthier foods like nuts and quinoa. I served this Christmas quinoa granola with some plain set yoghurt and it was dee-licious. I'm pretty proud of myself for finally not ruining a batch of granola. And I can graze on this without feeling like I'm eating spoonful after spoonful of sugar. Yum.

Will you have a go at this recipe? Let me know in the comment box below or tweet me @hello_flower - and send a photo if you do make it!

Winter Comforts - Chocolate & Banana Crumble

The other day I was thinking about puddings. I love pudding. I have it every day, whether it be in the form of a cookie and a cup of tea or a bowl of ice cream, I have this need to finish a meal with something sweet. I might have a problem. Anyway, for some reason I thought of this chocolate and banana crumble. Out of all the crumble combinations, this one has to be my favourite. I asked my mum for the recipe, because, seriously guys, it is amazing, and you have to try it too.


It tastes like barbequed bananas with melted chocolate stuffed inside the skins, with the added comfort of everyone's favourite crumble topping. A perfect taste of summer as we head further into winter. Plus, it's quick and cheap to make. No time consuming peeling of fruit or hefty chopping involved, this is the easiest and, in my opinion, nicest crumble to eat during the colder months. It even tastes good cold. My mum couldn't find the recipe anywhere so she estimated the quantities and it all turned out OK. 

 

I pinched the recipe for the crumble topping from Delia's Complete Illustrated Cookery Course book, which you can purchase here.

Recipe for Chocolate & Banana Crumble.

Serves 6.

Ingredients - for the filling:

• Juice of half a lemon. 
• Four bananas. 
• 200g dark chocolate. 
• Two tablespoons of demerara sugar.

For the crumble topping:

• 100g plain flour
• 35g butter
• 35g soft brown sugar

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Roughly chop the chocolate with a sharp knife or one of these fancy things that I found in my mum's kitchen drawer. I have no idea what it's called but it does the job brilliantly.

2. Put the chopped chocolate to one side in a bowl, and peel and chop the bananas.

3. Spread out the bananas into an ovenproof dish. Pour the lemon juice and the demerara sugar over them. 

4. Mix it all together so all the bananas are covered well in the sugar and lemon.

5. Add the chocolate and mix in with the bananas.

6. Now to make the crumble topping - bung everything into one bowl and rub together with your fingers. Or if you're lazy use a food processor, but I find this takes up more time and more washing up.

7. Sprinkle the topping over the bananas and chocolate and spread evenly with a fork.

8. Pop into the oven for about half an hour - keep an eye on it - and when it's browning slightly on the top it's done and ready to eat. Serve with a glass of milk. YUMMAY.

Will you try your hand at this recipe? Let me know in the comment box below or tweet me @hello_flower. I'd love to see photos if you do decide to make it.

Easy Chocolate Sauce

When I was little, in my house chocolate sauce was one of the most exciting parts about having ice cream for pudding. I didn't know how my mum made it, but she did it well, and it made tea time that little bit more exciting.

When I got a bit older I learned that it was in fact the easiest thing in the world to make and only required TWO ingredients. Chocolate and cream.

The best thing about this chocolate sauce is that if you're lucky enough to have any leftovers, it hardens in the fridge and turns into a a giant truffle that melts in the mouth when eaten with a spoon. YUM.

Pour over your favourite ice cream, fruit, or enjoy it on its own. But don't forget to pour some in your bowl in the shape of your initial - it's tradition ;)

Recipe for Easy Chocolate Sauce.

Ingredients: