It's unlikely I'll ever have a call for Sunday morning classes and I am rather glad that this provides me with a valid excuse to take a real weekend. Fortunately I have a number of close friends who are also available on this day and together we've formed 'The Sunday Morning Breakfast Club' and take real pleasure in sharing good food and great company every Sunday.
Everyone in the group knows that I rarely order eggs - a long story that involves an especially nasty case of food poisoning many years ago - and it's taken for granted that I will almost always opt for the yoghurt, fruit and granola which has long been a favorite of mine. Some coffee shops do a better job than others - OM in Hod Hasharon takes first prize with their homemade granola while Spaghettim at the Sportan will have to pay ME to order their pitiful granola and yoghurt again - but nothing compares to my homemade version.
Start your week with a bowlful and you'll almost be able to forget that in Israel the Monday Blues start on a Sunday.
GET UP AND GO FRUITED GRANOLA
125g butter
3/4 cup honey/silan
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
500 g oat flakes
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup linseed
1 cup chopped dried fruit such as sultanas, apricots, cranberries and apple
1: Preheat the oven to 170 C and place butter, honey/silan and vanilla in a small saucepan.
2: Cook gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes till butter and honey are properly combined.
3: Place remaining ingredients, except the fruit, in a large bowl and slowly stir in melted butter mixture to coat each grain.
4: Spread over a large baking pan and bake for 25 minutes till grains are lightly browned stirring occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly.
5: Remove from oven and allow to cool then stir in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container.
COOK'S NOTES: I often substitute silan date honey for real honey as it's very healthy and half the cost. Oat flakes and linseed (also known as flax seed) is available in packets at large supermarkets or at any health store.
Everyone in the group knows that I rarely order eggs - a long story that involves an especially nasty case of food poisoning many years ago - and it's taken for granted that I will almost always opt for the yoghurt, fruit and granola which has long been a favorite of mine. Some coffee shops do a better job than others - OM in Hod Hasharon takes first prize with their homemade granola while Spaghettim at the Sportan will have to pay ME to order their pitiful granola and yoghurt again - but nothing compares to my homemade version.
Start your week with a bowlful and you'll almost be able to forget that in Israel the Monday Blues start on a Sunday.
GET UP AND GO FRUITED GRANOLA
125g butter
3/4 cup honey/silan
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
500 g oat flakes
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup linseed
1 cup chopped dried fruit such as sultanas, apricots, cranberries and apple
1: Preheat the oven to 170 C and place butter, honey/silan and vanilla in a small saucepan.
2: Cook gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes till butter and honey are properly combined.
3: Place remaining ingredients, except the fruit, in a large bowl and slowly stir in melted butter mixture to coat each grain.
4: Spread over a large baking pan and bake for 25 minutes till grains are lightly browned stirring occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly.
5: Remove from oven and allow to cool then stir in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container.
COOK'S NOTES: I often substitute silan date honey for real honey as it's very healthy and half the cost. Oat flakes and linseed (also known as flax seed) is available in packets at large supermarkets or at any health store.