Orange and Vanilla Granola

I love to start the day with a really satisfying and tasty breakfast, that will keep me full until lunchtime. Granola is a bit like musli really, and this one is delicious! I adapted the recipe from one I found at www.answerfitness.com (link at bottom of post), and have kindly translated it from American cups into grams and spoons for us Brits. Enjoy this cereal with milk (and sweetener), or as a treat add some low fat yoghurt and fruit! A perfect fuel for a busy day.



Orange & Vanilla Granola

Ingredients:

75ml freshly squeezed orange juice
zest of 1 orange
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp LittlePod vanilla extract
225g rolled oats
25g wheatgerm
25g flaxseed/linseed
1tbsp flaked almonds
1tbsp sunflower seeds
100g dried blueberries
25g dessicated coconut (optional)

Place the orange juice, zest, honey, cinnamon and LittlePod vanilla extract in a small pan and warm on a moderate heat until it is all combined. Leave to one side. Mix the remaining ingredients (apart from the blueberries and coconut!) in a large bowl, then add the liquid from the pan. Mix with your hands, it should go a bit like a topping for a crumble. Spread this mixture on a large baking tray and bake at 180 degrees (gas mark 4) for about 20min, taking it out to turn and 'shuggle' halfway through. Add the coconut at this point if you're using it. It should be fairly dry by now, but if not, put back in the oven for another 5mins, no longer as it could burn and that won't be nice. Then leave it to cool, adding the blueberries when it is. Put your granola in an airtight container to make it stay nice and crunchy for longer!

This should make enough for about 14 helpings, I find you don't need too much of it to feel full. And it's good for you, so no feeling guilty, just full of energy!




Original recipe can be found here:
http://www.answerfitness.com/49/low-fat-homemade-vanilla-orange-granola-healthy-recipes-from-answer-fitness%C2%AE/