Cacao And Coconut Christmas Morning Granola

Get your fat pants ready, it’s Christmas! 

The days are long, long gone where sleep felt like an impossible task on Christmas Eve. When I would wake every hour on the hour to reach my toes nervously towards the end of the bed, feeling for a stocking filled up with treats and gold chocolate coins. When my Brother and I would sneak down the stairs to catch a glimpse of presents under the tree, and impatiently tear open our chocolate selection boxes. Jumping onto our parents bed at ridiculous o'clock to beg to go downstairs and open all the presents. And although Christmas Mornings now start with a cheeky run with my Dad rather than wading though the sea of wrapping paper, one thing about Christmas never truly changes. Chocolate for breakfast, and the excitement of the feasting ahead. 

This Cacao and Coconut Granola, served with coconut yogurt, fresh berries and a drizzle of chocolate sauce, is such a delicious breakfast to start a day of indulgence. Full of whole ingredients with amazing properties for our bodies, homemade and sweetened naturally with a mixture of ground cinnamon and local runny honey, this stuff is so much better for us than the shop brought stuff. Not that you needed a reason on Christmas Morning to be quite so decadent…

Serves 6-8.

Ingredients

2 TBSP Coconut Oil

185g Mixed Nuts

35g Pumpkin Seeds

70g Raisins

35g Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut

1 TSP Cacao Powder

1 TSP Ground Cinnamon

2 TBSP Runny Honey

Method

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the nuts, raisins and seeds to the pan first and stir frequently for 10 minutes. Then add the desiccated coconut, cacao powder, cinnamon and honey and reduce heat to low, stirring consistently for a further 5 minutes. Transfer the granola from the pan into a large bowl to cool completely. 
2. Serve with your chosen plant-based milk, or yogurt and fresh berries if you like.

Put on some cheesy Christmas music, sip slowly on a freshly brewed coffee and enjoy your Christmas Morning…

K

(This recipe was adapted from the Julie Montagu’s Chocolate and Coconut Granola recipe in the Sainsbury’s December 2016 issue).

Feel Good Festive Turmeric Milk

I'm always the first to embrace evenings spent watching cheesy Christmas films on Christmas 24/7, curled up on the sofa in a big cosy blanket. Starbucks Red Cups and warm gingerbread lattes. And if I'm going to be 100% honest with you, my Michael Bublé Christmas album hasn't actually left my car for the past 3 years I've had it...

If it were "acceptable" I would totally just have Christmas all year round. But apparently, along with eating Marmite out the jar with a spoon, it's just not. Isn't "acceptable" such a boring approach to life? 

I like to warm up my winter with this Feel Good Festive Turmeric Milk. Turmeric is an amazing spice, not only to colour your curries, but as an incredible source of antioxidants and it’s highly anti-inflammatory properties for the skin, body and mind. It contains an active ingredient called curcumin, which has proven in studies to be able to boost our levels of the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, the feel good chemicals that help us to feel happy and calm. So not only is this drink a delightfully festive indulgence, it also helps us to feel a little brighter and less stressed during the darker winter months.

Serves 1

1 Cup Coconut Milk

1/2 Tablespoon Honey

1 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

Pinch Of Black Pepper

1. Put all ingredients in a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for about 10 minutes, whisking to ensure all ingredients are combined.

2. Pour in to a mug and stir through with a cinnamon stick.

Enjoy

K