Oh what a beautiful morning...

I don't mind early mornings. As long as I don't have to talk to anyone. Or do anything . Basically I can manage, but it's more air plane mode than fully functioning. And the darker mornings definitely do not help. I love nothing more, than to wake up early on a dark winter  morning and lie in bed listening to the wind whistle around the house, the cosy glow of the the bedside lamp creating an Instagram filter on life. To kick start my brain on such mornings when human like interaction is required I need my tea. Some people chose coffee. To each their own. 
People have varying views on breakfast. Some cannot live without it. Some baulk at the thought of eating a meal in the early hours. The benefits of it are questioned. Now, usually I don't do breakfast. Just not my thing. However, if I'm going on a long journey, by car or train, I need something to settle my stomach. Now, I don't suffer from motion sickness usually, just if I'm working on an empty stomach. Therefore, I like to have something healthy to fall back on for use. Toast doesn't work..even though it's bread..I'd just end up eating slice after slice (And regretting it all later). I also am of the same mind when it comes to commercial cereals. Processed beyond belief and filled with chemicals to increase shelf life, they usually induce a sugar rush that could be seriously dangerous if behind the wheel of a car. 

I came across this recipe in Delicious magazine. It's my bible. Every month it's bought and recipes are torn out and kept in my folder. And then the skeleton of the magazine is kept cause the cover photos are so pretty. My feelings towards it is a manifestation of my OCD tendencies.

(a view of my collection)

 Anyway its a recipe for home-made granola. Now, before anyone starts waving fingers..yup, granola isn't low calorie. It's energy dense. But it is a great source of fibre and keeps me filled up without wanting to continue eating after having one serving. This basic recipe can be then used to make granola bars if the fancy takes you. 

You will need:
2 tbsp light olive oil
150ml apple juice
100ml maple syrup
1tsp vanilla extact
350g jumbo rolled oats
100g oat bran
50 g each sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
25g each golden linseed and hulled hemp seeds
200g dried fruit (whatever you fancy)

1. Preheat the over to 160C/gas 3 and like 1 large baking tray with baking paper
2. Gently warm the oil, apple juice, maple syrup, vanilla and a pinch of salt in a small pan and stir to combine
3. mix the oats, oat bran and all the seeds together in a large bowl and pour the liquid mixture over.
4. sitr well to coat and spread the granola on the tray

5. bake for 45 minutes, turning and breaking up the cereal every 10 mins. 

6. Stir in the dried fruit and cook for 15 more mintues. 
7.Cool, then store in an airtight container. 

Serve with milk, yoghurt and fuit or eat as a dry snack. There are 16 bowlfulls in this recipe.

Nutritional info: (per bowl)
235 kcals,9.6g fat (1.4 g sat fat), 6g protein, 7.9g carbs,