Simple Start Granola

How was your St.Patrick's weekend.  Mine was pretty uneventful, bar the fact that the flu has entered the house.  I did a bit of gardening and a lot of this.

Yes they are miniature packs, however, this particular midnight snack cost me 15 propoints and that does not include the slice of tiger bread with real butter on it and some other nibbles that I decided was a good idea.  

What's worse is, I actually think that because I am going boxing today, I can work it off, I'll be working this lot off for about 2-4 weeks. 

I am actually quite annoyed by myself.  Firstly because it was not a once off, I did it a number of times and secondly because I was eating them because I was enjoying them.  I don't know why I ate them? 

Some people love their alcohol around St. Patrick's day, for me it's junk and I am sure that I am not alone in having to get back up on that wagon today. 

I think most of us can say that we have either drowned the shamrock or ate every leaf off of it this weekend. 

However, if you notice, if you fall out of a wagon, it's a hard landing, but if your climbing back on, there are steps, meaning, the land from falling hurts more that getting back on it. 

Wipe the slate clean, I am.  It is now forgotten. 

This week in class were looking at starting the day off right, with breakfast.  I generally do Simple Start with my 49 Propoints but I did find the breakfast very limiting,   I find that breakfast in my house, has very little thought put into it.  Cereal is the norm.  Porridge during the winter maybe but I miss just having cornflakes or something that is easy. 

I know that it is probably all in my head but shredded wheat wasn't really cutting it and some mornings porridge was stretching my early morning abilities a little too far. 

I decided one evening that I needed to shake things up a little and I decided to play around with what is on hand for the Simple Start and to work within that. 

I love Granola, however it is very Propoint high and generally covered in all things that I like.  I don't really have it that often, it usually happens if I'm staying in a hotel and it's a treat.  

I am much more of a cold breakfast person that a cooked one.  Even if I have a cooked breakfast, I feel like I haven't had it because I didn't have milk. 

I don't drink tea or coffee so my only milk intake is at breakfast so maybe that's why I miss it. 

With saying that, I love granola as a topping on natural yogurt and lots of fruit. 

This was much more easy than I had thought possible and came together very quickly.  The most time consuming aspect of it is it baking in the oven which isn't really that long. 

I actually managed to get puffed wheat in my local health shop, it's called Health Matters in the Ashleaf centre.  Now, I felt it was  pricey at E3.50 for the small bag but I have to say it is so worth it.  It works brilliantly in this and is gorgeous all by itself.   If you can't find it, you could use Puffed Rice Cereal from Tesco. 

Simple Start Granola

Ingredients

1.5 Tbl of coconut oil or other oil of choice

1 banana mashed

2 tsp of coconut extract, bought in Asian stores

For the dry ingredient's you kinda have to go on instinct, I measured these out with a cup measure, I got it in the Euro store for a euro. 

2 cups of porridge oats

2 cups of puffed wheat

1 cup of oat bran

1/2 cup of sweetener of choice or to taste

Directions 

Pre heat the oven to gas mark 5.

In a large bowl,  mix all of the dry ingredient's together.  In a small saucepan, add the boil, banana and extract and place over a low heat.  Wait until all of the oil is melted and the banana is mush.  

Remove from heat and pour over the dry mix.  Stir to combine but ensure that you mix really well so that as much of it as possible has been incorporated. 

Place the mix over a long baking tray.  You wont get a thin layer so you will have to turn throughout the baking. 

Place in the oven for around 15 minutes, then using a spoon turn the mix and bake for another 15 minutes, turn the mix again and back for another 15 minutes.  The mix should be crispy and dry at this stage.  If you detect that it is still moist, toss again and place back in the oven for another 15 minutes. 

Remove from the oven when baked and allow to cool, roughly about 3 hours.  Place in a jar and have some for your breakfast.  

This would be delicious with some Total Greek Yogurt and a chopped banana. 

Enjoy the Niptuck way, so you don't have to!