Gluten Free Granola

11 Feb 2019 Recipes & Home Remedies ,

Making healthy snacks for your kids can be a real challenge and while we are not a gluten-free family I try to use it gluten as a treat, which means I am always seeking out yummy alternative recipes when I can. And let’s face it, lots of kid’s snacks are gluten based such as: pretzels, chips, crackers, Chex mix and the list could go on and on.

Why we are gluten-light? Well we have no allergens or sensitivities in our family but gluten is a food that isn’t easy to digest so by reducing the consumption in our house we boost a healthier digestive tract. Gluten as we age an in individuals with inflammation or diminished brain function can actually exacerbate problems so we reduce our exposure.

Fun Fact? Our family Gluten Splurges are usually for an amazing baguette. So last year when we went to Paris you can guess what we enjoyed.

Gluten Free Granola

Our family loves to use granola in so many ways such as, with yogurt and fruit, on oatmeal, plain or with rice or almond milk. I love this recipe since it has less clusters and more muesli without being muesli which makes it even better for sprinkling on yogurt.

Ingredients:
4 cups Rolled oats (not quick cooking) gluten free
¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped nuts such as almonds or pecans (if you have younger children always use pecans they are not as hard)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup canola oil
¼ cup maple syrup
1/3 cup honey
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup dried fruit (put in at the end after baking) Like acai berry for extra punch!

Steps:

Gather the ingredients.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean up and baking.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, salt and cinnamon.

In another bowl whisk together the canola oil, maple syrup, honey and vanilla.

With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until the oats appear wet.

Place the mixture on a large baking sheet and place in the oven.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until very lightly golden brown (not brown at all if you wait this long the granola will taste burned)

Remove from oven, let cool. When mostly cool, mix in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container for best results.

This recipe is based off one I found on the internet a while ago and love but when I printed it out nothing about the original source stayed on the print out. So thank you to the un-sung hero out there. We love the granola, and would love to give due credit if you are reading this blog.

Detox Smoothie

17 Jan 2013 Recipes & Home Remedies , , , ,

Detoxifying Smoothies 

The results of our office Detox Smoothie taste test are in! The favorite was the Spinach Mango, followed by the Basic Green Drink.  The Basic Green Drink is the most detoxifying because of the ginger and lemon. However the others work well over time. Notice a basic ingredient with the drinks below; one that turns the smoothies green and adds essential vitamins and nutrients.

Basic Smoothie Recipe

Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth and completely combined. Drink all at once, or separate into two servings. The smoothie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day. When it comes out of the fridge, it will have thickened, so give it a brisk stir (or use a small whisk) and enjoy!

Basic Green Drink

  • 2 cups cold water
  • 1 banana, cut into chunks
  • 1 orange, peeled and separated into segments
  • ½ apple (your favorite variety), peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
  • ½ lemon, peeled and separated into segments
  • ½-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
  • 2 cups baby spinach

Spinach Mango Smoothie

  • 2 cups spinach
  • 2 mangos, peeled and chopped
  • 1 banana

Tropical Green Smoothie

  • 1 head romaine or green leafy lettuce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 pineapple, skin and core removed

Blueberry Green Smoothie

  • 1 head romaine lettuce
  • 3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 apple, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 lemon or lime
  • 2 cups water

Mocktail: Non Alcoholic Holiday Punch

26 Nov 2012 Recipes & Home Remedies , , , ,

Non Alcoholic Holiday Punch even the kid’s can enjoy

Ingredients

1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle cranberry juice

4 liters lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage from Trader Joes

3 oranges, sliced into rounds

Sprinkle with fresh cranberries for color

8 cups crushed ice

4 cups of Raspberry juice or can crush raspberries and add 2 tablespoons of agave syrup.

Wassail

Wassail is a wonderful holiday treat and is perfect for serving at your parties.  It’s healthier than other holiday drinks and it warms the soul on cold nights.

Prep time:  15 minutes

Cook time:  3 hours

Ingredients:

1 gallon apple cider

2 cups cranberry juice

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup sugar

2 oranges

Whole cloves

Allspice

Ginger

Nutmeg

3 cinnamon sticks (or 3 Tbs. ground cinnamon)

1/2 cup – 1 cup brandy (optional)

Preparation:

Set your crock-pot to its lower setting, and pour in apple cider, cranberry juice, honey and sugar, mixing carefully. As it heats up, stir so that the honey and sugar dissolve. Stud the oranges with the cloves, and place in the pot (they’ll float). Add allspice, ginger and nutmeg to taste — usually a couple of tablespoons of each are plenty. Finally, snap the cinnamon sticks in half and add those as well.  Cover your pot and simmer 2 – 4 hours on low heat.

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