Macadamia and Honey Ginger Granola

Before the boy and I left for Canada last year, we took a road trip up the east coast of Australia. We went from nearly the lowest point, just outside Melbourne, and didn’t stop until we literally ran out of road to travel on up at the very top of the country in the Daintree.  We hiked and ran hundreds of kilometers, drove thousands more, and lived out of the back of an SUV for 6 weeks with an air mattress and a couple of sleeping bags. We cooked on our “stovemate” (yes they even call their  camping stoves mates), on the side of the highway, in rain storms and through so many heat waves , and ate more fresh mangoes and tropical fruits from roadside stands than I have ever eaten since. I can’t buy mangoes here any more because I’ve been so spoiled by the fresh ones straight off the tree in Australia.

We were also spoiled by fresh macadamias!  They sold them on the side of the road at farmstands like you would see apples and potatoes sold here, bags full of fresh nuts that you just wanted to sit down and crack open . We didn’t have a nut cracker with us, but after buying a bag, I was so desperate to eat them, I cracked them open by banging on them with rocks on the ground. There were orchards upon orchards of macadamia trees just lined with these beauties, the shells filled with this milky, soft, creamy macadamia.  You can’t compare them to the ones you find in the store, but somehow using them in this granola brings back so many fun Australia memories and makes me giddy with nostalgia. And longing for fresh macadamias.  For now, I’ll just eat the granola.

 

Macadamia and Honey Ginger Granola

Crunchy, nutty granola with a hit of ginger and a subtle sweetness. Perfect for breakfast on top of smoothie bowls or straight out of the jar!

Ingredients (3 cups)

• 2 cups large flake oats
• 1/3 cup raw buckwheat groats
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2-3 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 cup golden raisins

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine oats, buckwheat groats, cinnamon, salt and nuts.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat coconut oil and honey until melted and then stir in ginger.
• Leave on low heat, making sure not to boil and stir often for 10-15 minutes to let ginger infuse into the honey and oil.
• Remove from heat and pour over oat mixture. Add applesauce and stir until completely combined and oats are fully coated in liquid.
• Pour oat mixture onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove and flip the granola, baking on the second side for 15 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from the oven and leave the granola to cool completely. This allows it to clump together and go crunchy.
• After an hour, break up the granola and store in an airtight container or jar.

 Grab yourself some oats and macadamias and get this granola into your oven.  You won’t be disappointed regardless of the macadamias!

Link Love

Another day of sharing! As usual, another little mix of good food, good reads and good finds.  To be honest, I’ve been spending most of my time with my Canon Rebel, that I just got this week courtesy of the boy (!!!), so I haven’t been as active on the reading and engaging, but there’s always lots to share.  Add your thoughts or suggestions to the comments below and enjoy!

//Feeling low on energy?  Have a look here at what may be the cause!

//Physically active vs. physically fit.  This article talks about how your fitness affects your exercise and what you need to know about it.

//Saunas and recovery – a nice sauna sweat session may seem like a good idea to help in your workout recovery but read this article to see if that is really the case.

//Developing the tools and mindset to be the person you know you were meant to be.

//Hey Australia! My friend (and the boy’s sister!!) has this awesome clothing boutique in Australia called Wild Urban (I was spoiled living there), which they’ve recently taken online! Have a look at all the awesome clothes.  And if you’re ever in Australia it’s well worth the trip.  It’s one of the first places I’ll be going when we return to Aus!

//A Letter to the Fat Girl I saw at Hot Yoga – makes me smile!

//I believe whole-heartedly that being healthy starts with the little things.  Here’s a great post on the simple tweaks you can make to improve your health.

//We devour kale in heaps every day.  But when it comes to salads, massage is key! Check out this post for the 101 on kale massaging!

//Gingerbread donuts.  You know how grand my gingerbread obsession is . . .

//Need a quick workout? This is a great tabata to get your sweat on! And then go do this ab burner.  Awesomeness!

Source: Stella & Dot

 Shine bright today in all your greatness and have an awesome day!

Protein Bars

Whether you need a mid afternoon snack, a post-workout refuel option or a quick breakfast, everybody has room in their pantry for protein bars.  Healthy, filled with good fats, protein and a big energy boost, these bars are a go to when you need a little bit of an energy re-boot.  For me sometimes that’s in the afternoon, to get me through a little tired slump, or maybe post workout when I’ve just killed the trails for 12 kilometers.  I say killed, because despite the continuous ice and snow battle I fight every day with them, I like to think I’m still winning.  Maybe it’s debatable.  I’ll have a protein bar in reward nonetheless.