Food:

Oat Free Granola makes 7 cups

1 c. each- shelled pistachios, sunflower seeds, raw almonds, raw walnuts, macadamia nuts, raw pumpkin seeds, tart dried cherries (mine are local)

2 t. salt (I use celtic gray salt, use something besides table salt)

2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. fresh grated nutmeg

1/2 c. local honey

2 T. coconut oilDirections:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a large baking/sheet pan by lining it with a piece of parchment paper or a silpat.

2. In a small saucepan melt the coconut oil and honey together, do not boil. Add the salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to this mixture. Set aside to cool just a bit. In a large mixing bowl combine all the nuts and seeds, then pour the honey mixture over the nuts and mix well. Pour the coated nut mixture onto the prepared sheet pan.

3. Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 30 mins. Stir the mixture a few times during the baking.

4. Take granola out of the oven and let the nuts cool just a bit and then add your tart dried cherries and mix well. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Seasonal Fruit and  Local Goat Yogurt Parfaits serves 1

3/4 c. local goat yogurt (I use Drake Family Farms)

1 T. chia seeds (whole or ground)

1 T. local honey (Clifford Farms) or pure maple syrup

1/2  local apple, cored and chopped

1/2 local pear, cored and chopped

1/4 c. pomegranate seeds

1/3 c. oat free granola

optional: 1 T. coconut butter, ground flax seeds, bee pollen, nut buttter

Directions:

1. In a tall glass container (preferably with a lid for easy transport) start by pouring the yogurt into the bottom of container, next add the chia seeds and honey or maple syrup, stir to combine.

2. Next add your fruit and then top with the oat free granola and coconut butter if using. Store in the fridge to take to work or EAT immediately! Do it all over again tomorrow.

Love:

This part of my blog is the hardest for me! Sometimes I wonder, does anyone even care? Aren’t most of you just here for the food anyways? I don’t want to ramble on about nothing just to fill space.

Blogging is a funny thing, its takes quite a lot of time to stage, cook, photograph and then blog the whole recipe process. This is not my job, I don’t get paid, I do it because I want to share the food and recipes I love using local seasonal ingredients.

I consider myself a creative person but creatively I have been in a slump! This explains why I was MIA all summer. I was probably harder on myself than anyone else for being missing in action but it is important for me to work from an organic place and share what comes naturally. Being able to share all that happens in my kitchen would be impossible!

This oat free granola is inspired by my friend Vanessa, it’s easy to throw together using your favorite nuts and dried fruit. I’m partial to the local tart dried cherries I find at the farmers market from Woodyatt Cherry Farm, but I have used dates as well. While you are at the farmers market pick up apples, pears and Drake Family Goat Yogurt, breakfast will be a breeze. Make sure and stock up on the tart dried cherries so you’ll have them all winter to make this yummy granola. ENJOY!