The Food Incentive - II
Hey you guys!
I have so many post just sitting there in the draft box there and I cant decide what to post. I then had an idea about posting something Ramzan related. Its such a special, holy month for Muslims all around the world, its just amazing how everybody just comes together for each other & try to put their best efforts in putting good deeds forward. I personally think that every year, you can make a difference by planning a bit in advance for the coming days. We all know that food is an important part of of it too & not just because of how can you say no to all those samosa & pakoras, & chilled drinks especially after long parching days of summer, but primarily because of the importance of Iftar religiously as well. The kind of food that you eat for suhoor and iftar are important because they will be responsible for holding up & replenishing your energy levels during your fasting state & for after you break the fast.
I was for a long time looking into some healthy breakfast options, never have been big on breakfast, but after college, when I know I had long days ahead of me work wise, I know I had to either have good breakfast or just consume snacks at intervals, but still I wasn't sure what can I do about it, because , not being a morning person+ lazy is not really a combo screaming breakfast prep! Anyways, so I read about granola & thought about trying that since I actually happen to like oats. Now, the big question was, what type? Now during this foodie search I came across some Pakistani brands making them in different types & for different needs accordingly. You can find all them on Facebook & Instagram very easily. I actually thought about giving a try to making my own & drum roll!!!! I did it & it was amazing! I actually wasn't very positive about them turning about to be so good, I was hooked! I literally finished the jar, like munchies, over a period of less than a month. Now I didn't even thought about posting about it so I hadn't clicked any pictures but I'm sharing the recipe here with you, the original one & the little changes I made.
2 cups raw, whole rolled oats (AKA old fashion oats), preferably organic ( Since I was trying it for the first time, I halved all the ingredients, so 1 cp)
½ cup raw nuts, chopped ( I used almonds, raisins & shredded coconut)
¼ cup raw seeds (sunflower or pumpkin seeds are great) ( I used pumpkin seeds, they turned out really well)
½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (optional)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey (or a combo of both) ( used honey)
2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or other healthy cooking oil ( used olive oil)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract ( used vanilla extract, you also can use a dash of cinnamon along with it, I don't like it personally)
1 large pinch fine sea salt ( used a pinch only, since i was reducing the ingredients accordingly)
I have so many post just sitting there in the draft box there and I cant decide what to post. I then had an idea about posting something Ramzan related. Its such a special, holy month for Muslims all around the world, its just amazing how everybody just comes together for each other & try to put their best efforts in putting good deeds forward. I personally think that every year, you can make a difference by planning a bit in advance for the coming days. We all know that food is an important part of of it too & not just because of how can you say no to all those samosa & pakoras, & chilled drinks especially after long parching days of summer, but primarily because of the importance of Iftar religiously as well. The kind of food that you eat for suhoor and iftar are important because they will be responsible for holding up & replenishing your energy levels during your fasting state & for after you break the fast.
I was for a long time looking into some healthy breakfast options, never have been big on breakfast, but after college, when I know I had long days ahead of me work wise, I know I had to either have good breakfast or just consume snacks at intervals, but still I wasn't sure what can I do about it, because , not being a morning person+ lazy is not really a combo screaming breakfast prep! Anyways, so I read about granola & thought about trying that since I actually happen to like oats. Now, the big question was, what type? Now during this foodie search I came across some Pakistani brands making them in different types & for different needs accordingly. You can find all them on Facebook & Instagram very easily. I actually thought about giving a try to making my own & drum roll!!!! I did it & it was amazing! I actually wasn't very positive about them turning about to be so good, I was hooked! I literally finished the jar, like munchies, over a period of less than a month. Now I didn't even thought about posting about it so I hadn't clicked any pictures but I'm sharing the recipe here with you, the original one & the little changes I made.
2 cups raw, whole rolled oats (AKA old fashion oats), preferably organic ( Since I was trying it for the first time, I halved all the ingredients, so 1 cp)
½ cup raw nuts, chopped ( I used almonds, raisins & shredded coconut)
¼ cup raw seeds (sunflower or pumpkin seeds are great) ( I used pumpkin seeds, they turned out really well)
½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (optional)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey (or a combo of both) ( used honey)
2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or other healthy cooking oil ( used olive oil)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract ( used vanilla extract, you also can use a dash of cinnamon along with it, I don't like it personally)
1 large pinch fine sea salt ( used a pinch only, since i was reducing the ingredients accordingly)
- Preheat the oven to 300º F. ( I used an oven toaster so I didn't overheat, just spread the mix in the tray & popped it into the oven)
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Use your clean hands to mix well and toss to coat; it will be sticky and messy but that's the fun part. The coconut oil might be solid depending on your climate (it has a melting point of about 75ºF). Your hands will warm it up and melt it into the mixture if it’s solid, just be sure to mix it all through the other ingredients so there aren't any chunks of oil left. ( I used olive oil, you can use butter, coconut oil or olive oil)
- Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes, until very lightly toasted. (To make this recipe completely raw-friendly, dehydrate the mixture 5-6 hours at 115ºF in a food dehydrator instead.)
- Cool before serving or storing.
- This granola can be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks. I keep mine in a mason jar in the refrigerator at home and in a BPA-free plastic bag when travelling.( I kept it in a jar at room temperature).
It has a very chunky, crunchy texture but if you like a more clumpier version, they added an egg for that. I will post the link in the end.
Now, the verdict. I already told you how addictive it was that I actually ate it without even putting it on yogurt or fruits ( which is how you should be doing, actually). It is a very healthy, nutritious, healthy & quick option for your breakfast. You can use it in smoothie bowls, yogurt, fruits & oats. This is something worth trying & can be a good suhoor option. If you try it out, do let me know in the comments section.
https://www.elizabethrider.com/easy-healthy-homemade-granola-recipe/
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