Kitchen Sink Granola

Well, it’s been a long week.

And it’s only Wednesday. My week has honestly involved a lot of me napping and watching Sex and the City. I know. How can that be a long week? Well, I’m sick, so doing anything is basically out of the question.

I did however, make granola. And maybe it’s because I was sick when I made it, and basically can’t stop eating it, that I’m still sick. Just a theory.

It was seriously a gorgeous day on Monday. But I ran one errand, and felt too exhausted to do anything. Except make this granola, based on granola we made in class one and a half weeks ago.

Do you see that sunny day?

It actually looks a lot like that now, and the courtyard outside my window is full of people happily enjoying some vitamin D.

Maybe I’ll join them.

But first I’m going to eat more granola.

The best part of this granola is how flexible it is, you could through just about anything in. Well, maybe that’s what’s great about any granola right? But just to give you an outline to work with, here is what I did.

Kitchen Sink Granola

Ingredients
1/4cup Honey
1/4cup peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice.)
1 tbsp coconut oil
4 cups large flake oats
3 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/2cup chocolate chips
1/2-1cup raisins
1/2-1cup almonds

1. Preheat oven to 325. (I accidentally had it on 350, and some of my granola is definitely more on the burnt side).
2. Melt honey, oil, and peanut butter in microwave so it can easily be blended together and poured.
3. mix together the oats and ground flaxseed, then pour in the honey and peanut butter mixture. Thoroughly combine until all the oats are coated (there will be a few clumps of granola goodness).
4. Pour mixture onto cookie sheet, and spread into an even layer. Throw in over for 10minutes or so. Remove, toss around a bit, and again put in oven for 10min; repeat another 1 to 2 times, until oats are toasted and fragrant. Allow to cool.
5. Once cool throw the oats into a bowl, and add in remaining ingredients; mix and try not to eat too many while you’re at it.

WARNING this granola is addictive. I’ve already eaten one jar, even if it was the smaller of the two jars, it is still GONE.

Yep it’s that good. And you could basically use any ingredients you have on hand; almond butter, peanuts, walnuts, apricots, dates, carob chips… Try whatever you like.

Now if you excuse me, I’m going to go and take another nap. All this writing has been exhausting.

White Devil

Well hello my friends! It has been awhile hasn’t it?

I’ve been up to normal student life events; going out with friends, procrastinating, paying for that procrastination by cursing myself during the midterm!

I’ve also been indulging my student eating habits. Sugar, sugar, sugar has been my drug of choice for the last few days. I’ve just been craving chocolate (and for coffee) like mad, and giving in like crazy. If I indulge in extra coffee I do get decaf, seriously, it’s the taste I like, coffee with a bit o’ cream? Heaven. But usually it’s a coffee and a cookie that I crave.

My sugar has ventured into many aspects of my eating…

 
chocolate chips?! How’d those get there… (shifty eyes)

Why am I craving sugar? I can’t really say… There’s a couple things.

a) I was stressed about the midterm
b) I like sugar, and unfortunately I’m getting in a cookie-before-one-class habit.
c) I’m hella tired.

C is probably the main reason. I’m really tired, and the culprit is not being able to sleep. And why can’t I sleep? I’m not really sure, because I’m definitely tired when I go to bed,but something just keeps me awake. I don’t think it’s completely in my mind, sometimes I definitely just can’t turn my brain off. But the light coming through my windows really bothers me. I might have to try something to block it out. Anybody use those eye cover things people always wear for “beauty sleep”?

Of course, the tired might be because my main source of food lately has been sugar, and that gives you a spike of blood glucose, then quickly drops, leaving you tired and lethargic (oh yeah, that’s right I just finished studying glycemic index thank you very much)…

So maybe it’s a whole twisted circle; I’m tired and my body wants sugar, because that will give me energy fast, then I’m soon tired again… leading me to want sugar! oh no! Whatever shall I do? (just kidding, I honestly think I’m mainly due to sleep deprivation)

What do you do with a craving? Just give in? Or think about what it is your body might be asking you?

PS, you know what’s not helping? Watching Alton Brown cook up some cinnamon buns on Good Eats.