Foodie Friday: Banana Bread Granola & a Giveaway!

Best part of being home during the day?

Skyping with Jilly bean when Bubby is babysitting 🙂 Love her little giggles!

Anywho, the other day catastrophe struck and I found myself without granola [it’s a good thing I’m not dramatic or anything]. Having recently received a package from Bob’s Red Mill, I knew I could remedy the situation.

I also happened to have a couple bananas that were pretty much banana bread-perfect. I reached for the oats and pecans and went to work.

Banana Bread Granola

Makes 5 cups
Recipe adapted from Minimalist Baker

Ingredients
– 3 cups rolled oats
– 1 1/4 cups raw pecans; chopped
– 1 tbsp ground flax seed
– 1 tsp sea salt
– 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
– 1/4 cup coconut oil; melted
– 1/4 cup honey [Substitute agave or maple syrup if vegan]
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 1/2 medium bananas; mashed

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, pecans, flax seed, sea salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and mashed bananas. When the wet ingredients have come together, mix them into the dry ingredients until everything is evenly coated.

Spread the mixture onto two parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheets. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until golden brown. I didn’t toss my granola until the very end and was able to get nice big clusters. If you’d like smaller pieces, feel free to toss throughout the baking process.

Nutritional Information
Per 1/3 cup serving

212 Calories  /  14g Fat  /  20g Carbs  /  3g Fiber  /  6g Sugar  /  4g Protein

Giveaway Time!

Bob’s Red Mill has graciously offered one reader a package of the same 4 ingredients I received above. Click here to enter!

Looking for other recipes to make using these ingredients?
Here are a few I have on my list:

• Blissful Blueberry Banana Spelt Muffins – Oh She Glows
• Cinnamon & Pumpkin Spice Almond Bread – Cotter Crunch
• Paleo Sandwich Bread – Peachy Palate
• Citrus-Pumpkin Seed Crusty Spelt Brown Bread – Healthy Happy Life

Food for Thought

What would you make with these ingredients?
What is your favorite kind of granola?

What I Ate Wednesday #6 – Heavy Seas Ale House

I love nothing more than trying new things.. especially when it comes to food! I’ve been mixing up my meals a bit this week and trying new easy recipes. I also got to try a new restaurant in Baltimore; Heavy Seas Ale House. The food was delicious and the drinks were even better! So let’s get to it, shall we?!

Breakfast

Perfect morning quinoa with blueberries & almonds and a Bombshell Spell. All directly from the lovely Tone It Up Nutrition Plan!

Sensible Snack #1

1/2 grapefruit sprinkled with stevia. Alright, so not everything is getting mixed up this week, but what can I say? I’m a fan of the grapefruit!

Lunch

Summer shrimp salad.. another one from the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan. This is such a great meal for warm days! It’s so light and delicious and frankly, I’m a fan of topping anything with avocado!

Sensible Snack #2

GT’s Guava Goddess Kombucha is one of my absolute favorite drinks lately! If you have never heard of or tried Kombucha, get on it! And I would highly recommend the Guava Goddess, Gingerade, and Gingerberry flavors.

I was also so excited to try The Good Bean Chocolate Berry bar. These bars are full of fruit and no nuts! Typically I love almonds and cashews and other nuts in my bars, but this one replaces that crunchy texture with chick peas. So delicious and you really don’t miss the nut! (And how can you top dark chocolate and berries?!)

Dinner

We celebrated my parents’ 35th wedding anniversary at Heavy Seas Ale House. Nathan and I had only been there once before for drinks, but had been wanting to return and try the food; we’d heard so many good reviews!

Heavy Seas has become known for their beer cocktails. The first time we went there, I got the Gold Ale Cucumber Margarita. Holy yum!

“Heavy Seas Gold Ale”, resposado tequila, fresh lime juice, cucumber and house made golden ale syrup with a salted rim.

This time I had to try something new.. here we haveAny Port in the Storm. Again, holy yum!

Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, house made ginger syrup, lime juice, and “Heavy Seas Gold Ale”

We started out with 1/2 dozen raw Washington oysters. I’m not a big oyster fan, but I always try one when we get them. My parents loved them! I much preferred the Spicy Beer Nuts. I would definitely recommend them, but watch out.. they’re addicting and the spice builds!

Pecans tossed with sweet spices and “Marzen”

My mom and I both got the Crispy Rockfish Special over mussels and cockles, topped with zucchini, roasted corn, & bacon in a tomato broth. Delicious! I was happy to learn that crispy didn’t mean fried. It was cooked in a pan, skin on, so the skin was nice and crispy, but the fish was not at all oily.

We finished off with a lovely Flourless Chocolate Cake with bay leaf chantilly creme on a beautifully (and deliciously!) decorated plate. And to our surprise, every table gets to end their meal with these wonderful homemade mini chocolate chip cookies with a touch of spice! I have to say, I think I preferred the cookie to the cake!

I will definitely be returning to Heavy Seas to try some more delicious food! I hear the burgers and oyster po boy sandwiches are out of this world, so I think next time we’ll be trying out their lunch dishes. Can’t wait to report in on that!

Speak Up!

What’s the best dish you’ve had a restaurant recently?