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Posts Tagged ‘Quick and healthy breakfast’

Pumpkin Pecan Maple Granola

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 30/10/2019| 4 Comments »

Andy Williams may have been singing about Christmas when he crooned It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, but for me, hands down, autumn is the hap-happiest season of all! Back in the day when I was a big-haired, cowboy boot wearing, Texas girl, I used to call this season… “sweater weather”. Back then, I lived for the cooler weekends when I could throw on a pair of well worn jeans, a cozy jumper {sweater} and head off to some grassy field an hour or so outside of Dallas for a bit of antique shopping.

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Now, my life is so different. I’m a wife and mother. We split our time between Ireland and America. And our home is fully furnished {finally!}. I still live for the weekends, but now I’m much more likely to get out for a hike, throw myself on the sofa and relax with a stash of newspapers and magazines or get creative in the kitchen whipping up recipes…{truth be told, a spot of retail therapy in Dundrum also makes the list!}

This past Bank Holiday Monday was a perfect day for being in the kitchen. Among other autumn treats, I made Pumpkin Maple Granola, which I double batched because it disappears so quickly. The base recipe is Nadia’s Granola. We love this incredibly more-ish treat but, let’s be honest, it’s nice to change things up every now and again. With that and sweater weather in mind, I created this simple, delicious, Pumpkin Pecan Maple Granola. It takes only 40 minutes to mix and bake and has 11 ingredients: pumpkin pureé, mixed spice, pecans and cranberries…oh my!  And, the smell will drive you around the bend: it’s like a yummy pumpkin spice candle.

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If you prefer to substitute currants or raisins for the cranberries…go for it. Ditto if you want to use a different type of nut…or not nuts at all. This granola doesn’t have any of that over-the-top sugariness that you’ll find in store bought granola. We enjoy it in a multitude of ways: over Weetabix, Special K, yogurt, fresh fruit, ice cream, or by the handful.

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I know the last few days have been cold in Ireland, but I hope you are making time for yourself and your friends/loved ones outdoors in our beautiful countryside. With Halloween less than 24 hours away, be safe, enjoy the candy, carved pumpkins, costumes and bonfires…autumn is truly a magical season.

~ XoK

Pumpkin Pecan Maple Granola

Makes 5 cups/600 grams

Ingredients

50 ml/2oz/¼ cup maple syrup

28g/1oz/¼ cup brown sugar

50 ml/2oz/¼ cup olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mixed spice {pumpkin spice}

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

76g/2.7oz/1/3 cup pumpkin pureé

340g/12oz/3 cups rolled oats

118g/4.2oz/1 cup raw pecans, roughly chopped into pieces

130g/4.6oz/1 cup raw pumpkin seeds

50g/1.8 oz/1/3 cup cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 150°C/300°F.

2. Mix first 7 ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Add oats and mix to coat.

4. Spread mixture out on a large, rimmed, baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes.

5. Add the pecans and pumpkin seeds and bake for another 15 minutes. Continue to stir every 5 minutes.

6. Remove the hot muesli from the oven and allow to cool completely before adding cranberries. Store in a sealed container to keep fresh.

Additional Notes, Related Articles & Credit:

* If you live in Ireland, you can buy Pumpkin pureé year round at Fallon & Byrne.

** Oats are said to reduce harmful LDL cholesterol. To learn more, check-out this article from Mayo Clinic online.

*** Getting outdoors is incredibly healthy for the body, the spirit and the mind. If you’re in Ireland, or visiting soon, check out these articles and websites for places to hike in Ireland. My personal favorites are Glendalough, Killiney Hill, Big Sugarloaf, Bray Head, The Gap of Dunloe, The Giant’s Causeway and the Howth Cliff Walk.

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Cinnamon Apple Porridge

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , on 20/10/2019| 2 Comments »

Since coming back from our holidays in August, I have been very intentional about how we live. Though we are typically pretty good, our lives had recently started to feel chaotic again. Simple, healthy, clean, honest, and wholesome is what I wanted us to move back towards and, as the mammy of the house, it was up to me to lead the charge.

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I gently turned myself and my family {even the daughter who is miles away} towards getting more exercise, spending time in quiet contemplation, volunteering, and eating better. It took a little convincing of the two kids at the start of our move back to healthier living, but once they saw the tangible results {more sound sleep, better fitness, a few pounds shed, and less stress felt} everyone was in. Best of all…it only took six weeks before we were seeing and feeling the benefits and that, for me, felt like a small victory!

So, now, with the days growing shorter and the weather getting cooler, it is a touch harder to stay the course in terms of how we eat. And, let’s be honest, if you’re not eating properly, it’s much harder to do anything else well. I’m sure, like yourselves, we are craving foods that are hearty and warm, especially in the morning, which is why I really do love this Cinnamon Apple Porridge recipe. It is an autumn-inspired take on traditional Irish porridge.

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With the addition of three simple ingredients, apples, cinnamon and toasted pumpkin seeds, it’s easy to make a vegan, gluten-free, hot and delicious breakfast in no time at all. In fact, I often make a big batch and either refrigerate or freeze the leftovers {in single servings} to have for the entire week which saves me time and energy…another small victory!

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What toppings are you putting on your porridge in the morning? Do share, I’m always looking for new ideas. In the meantime, here are a few more apple recipes to try, if  you’re on an apple kick like me.

Cinnamon Apple Porridge

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup/7oz steel cut (or pinhead) oats

4 cups/2 pints water, though you can use milk if you prefer

Directions

1. The night before you want porridge, bring the water to a rapid boil.

2. Slowly add the pinhead oats, mixing all the time, and bring the water back to the boil.

3. Turn off heat, cover and leave to set overnight.

4. Next morning, add more water (or milk), stir and reheat.

5. While the porridge is heating, core an apple and chop the apple slices into bite size pieces. Set aside.

6. Toast a handful of pumpkin seeds in a dry pan over medium heat on the hob {stove}.

7. Once the porridge is ready, spook into bowls, top with apple pieces, pumpkin seeds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and serve immediately. {Maple syrup is a nice addition too}.

Additional Notes, Related Articles & Credit:

* If you prefer stewed apples, you could always add the apples {skin and all} to the pinhead oats and cook until the mixture is creamy and the apples are so tender that they almost disappear…but that’s up to you. For the moment, I prefer my apples crisp and tart, which is why I add them uncooked. You could also add the cinnamon from the very beginning, if you prefer.

** Every wondered if cinnamon is safe or good for you? Read this Time Magazine online article to get the scoop.

*** We’ve been growing Irish apples in our back garden for years, but that pales in comparison to the fact that apples have been grown in Ireland for some 3,000 years! To learn more about Irish apple varieties and even buy some to grow yourself, visit Futureforests.ie

 

 

 

 

Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal

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Quick & Easy Overnight Oatmeal

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on 27/11/2017| 3 Comments »

Two jars of overnight oats topped with yogurt and blueberriesOvernight porridge {oatmeal} is a familiar thing in our Irish home. To make, I bring a pot of steel cut oats, covered in water, to the boil and then turn off the heat and leave overnight. In the morning, I add a little extra water to the oats, give them a quick stir and reheat. This recipe couldn’t be simpler to make.

But, as my children have gotten older, it has become harder to get them to eat breakfast before they head off to school. So, our beloved hot porridge oats have gone by the wayside and in their place I’ve started making a different kind of overnight porridge: the no-cook kind.

And, you know what? My kids love it. They can grab and go straight from the fridge at home, saving them pocket money, and they can eat their brekkie when they are hungry…not when I want them to eat. The morning argument of “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is gone and I am thrilled.

A close up of a spoon of overnight oats with two jars filled with overnight oats in the background

This recipe is a win-win for everyone. Once you try it, I know you’re going to like it for your kids too. In fact, make an extra one for yourself…it’s just that good!

 

Overnight Oatmeal

Makes One

Ingredients

40g rolled oats, not steel cut or instant

75ml milk/almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon flax seed and/or chia seeds

a pinch of salt

2-3 tablespoons yogurt

fruit to top

Directions

1. Combine the oats, milk, vanilla, honey, salt and flax and/or chia seeds in a glass container and mix well.

2. Top with yogurt and fruit and put the lid on the container.

3. Refrigerate overnight.

Additional Notes, Related Articles & Credit:

* Overnight oats don’t need to be eaten the next morning: they’re good for about three days after you make them. Just know, however, that the porridge will get soggier the longer you leave it. And, if you are going to leave it a few days, don’t add the yogurt or fruit when you make this recipe…add just before you eat it.

** The beauty of this recipe is it can be changed up pretty much however you like. For example, you can add pumpkin seeds or any other kind of seed you like. You can add other stuff like chopped nuts, shredded coconut, cocoa nibs, or dried fruit. How about a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom or stir in some cocoa powder or matcha powder? You could change up the sweetener and add maple syrup, agave, date sugar, brown sugar, or even white sugar, A small squeeze of lemon juice would add a tang to your oats too. The options are endless.

*** For an easy-to-make, and delicious, recipe for traditional Irish steel cut porridge, please click here.

 

 

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