Mindful Monday

“Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill.” -Elsa Schiaparelli

Recently I have been reminded of the joy of living well, mindfully, and purposefully in many areas of my life. Choices that bring peace and health are important to me. In the world of food I sometimes still go for the crinkly bag and the ‘treat’ but as time marches on I realize my choices are more and more important.

Breakfast is a delight for this household…it makes the start of my day! So when I made a large batch of granola last week I thought of its value and that made me want to share this recipe.

Best Ever Granola

Mix together well the following dry ingredients:
20 cups oats (old fashioned)
2 tsp. sea salt
2 cups coconut
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 cups sliced or slivered almonds
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
1 cup roasted cashew pieces
1 cup roasted peanuts

Combine wet ingredients and whisk briskly:
1 ¾ cups maple syrup
¼ cup vanilla
1 cup light olive oil
1 cup water
Add to dry mix. This will bake nicely on 3 large cookie sheets at 275.

Stir once after the first hour. Continue to bake for another hour…stir again and turn oven down to 225 for another two hours. Your granola should be dry before storing and the extra time in the oven ensures dryness. Depending on the humidity of your kitchen and your ingredients you can adjust the oven temp to suit your needs.
Keep only a week’s supply out at a time and freeze the remainder.

"To live content with small means,
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich,
to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly,
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart,
to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely,
await occasions,
hurry never...
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconcious,
grow up through the common.
This is my symphony."          -William Ellery Channing