Maple Pecan Granola

I don’t plan to make granola in particular at this time of year but this seems to be when the urge strikes. I guess it is a time of year when you need all the cheer you can get while still trying to eat healthily. For this batch of granola I wanted to limit the ingredients to a few flavours rather than throwing in every nut and seed I have. I remembered that my dad gets a very nice maple pecan oat cereal from Sainsbury’s that I’d tried over Christmas so that was my inspiration. My measurements were roughly 500g oats (I used Flahavan’s organic porridge oats), 100g pecans, 100g sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and 1/4 cup groundnut oil. Mixed, then spread on a baking tray, put in a medium hot oven, and stirred every 15 minutes until golden brown. I think the secret treat when you make your own granola is to make it pre-breakfast so you can have that first bowl with granola warm from the oven, preferably with a handful of blueberries on top.

I took this picture on Sunday morning before I took down the Christmas and birthday cards that we put across the dresser and radiator in the absence of a mantlepiece. I can see a cute gingerbread one from Marceline peeking out!