Berries & Cream Granola

Weekends are far too short. I remember waking up late morning on Saturday already thinking how little of the weekend was left. Or at least that’s how it felt. But in the amount of weekend that remained, I managed to be told by two different people that I look like Cobie Smulders/Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother (love that show). Now, I’m not often told that I look like anyone, but this was a new one to add to the list. So far there is Lacey Schwimmer when she was a brunette (Dancing with the Stars), Megan Boone only when she was in My Bloody Valentine, and then one rare moment when I was told I looked like Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity (she’s my biggest girl-crush ever so the fact I resembled her for even a fleeting moment made my life haha). From that list and my new addition I have to say I don’t really see the resemblance, but I’m not opposed to others saying I look like any of those ladies :-).

Speaking of  pretty things, lets talk about this granola.The first time I made this, I baked the granola at 375 and had the fruit, nuts and half the white chocolate already mixed in. However, it was nearly burned after just 15 minutes of baking, including the nuts and white chocolate. With the use of coconut oil the end result had a hint of burned popcorn flavor to it which wasn’t so happy. So I reduced the temperature to what I have previously used for granola recipes, and left out all of the nuts, fruit and white chocolate until after baking was completed (which is again how I’ve done it in the past). Another great homemade granola to add to the list!

Thankfully no one has told me I look like a bowl of oats, nuts and dried fruit – yet.

BERRIES AND CREAM GRANOLA

Makes approximately 3.5 cups

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats, uncooked

1/4 cups wheat germ

2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

1/4 cups shredded coconut

1/4 cups coconut oil

1/2 cups chopped almonds

1/2 cups dried fruit, berry mix

1/4 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine oats, wheat germ, flax, coconut and oil in a medium bowl. Stir to combine and make sure mixture is moistened with coconut oil.
3. Spread on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5-8 minutes to make sure the granola doesn’t burn.
4. Once finished, remove from the oven and stir in almonds, dried fruit and white chocolate chips.

Source: Adapted from Tasty Kitchen.