Thursday 18 August 2011

Roseanna’s Granola


Ahoy me hearties! Hello and welcome back, or if this is your first time clicking into Feeling Food, I’m delighted you’re here. I have some lovely recipes to share with you over the coming weeks that will gently lead us towards autumn! Can you believe it? Over the last few days I’ve noticed a definite change in the air.  For now though lets enjoy summer and all her beautiful gifts, her bright light transforms flavours and frames our fresh taste buds formidably, so while the marrow salutes, the tomatoes beam, the courgettes curtsy, the cabbages cream, the leeks linger and the berries blush - enjoy them all.

I’ve spent the last few weeks away in the Wild West of Ireland, my favourite place; time was spent with loved ones in fresh, peaceful, calm and beautiful surroundings. However, the switch of a button zoomed us back to the reality of the August riots that seemed to sweep across England. From a distance perspective is clear and it’s easier to be objective.

Provocative and prejudice statements have been flying around ever since, knee jerk reactions to a series of unfortunate events. In the scheme of things these riots are a blip, there are much more serious events going on in the world, the famine in Sudan for a start. Why isn't this getting more news coverage? The point eloquently made by Sean Fitzgerald in Clapham Junction, highlighting the charity shop that had been destroyed speaks volumes - what happened a couple of weeks ago was mindless - we need to be mindful. We may each make a difference, and of course that starts at home.

How about we make it our business to sit around a table with our families more often, sharing thoughts and concerns. Families today are not necessarily blood relatives; our multi-cultural society bids us to live side by side in peace. How lucky I feel to have neighbours with totally different cultures, each person has something unique and special, sometimes it's bubbling under the surface and needs a little encouragement, though its always there. Recently I’ve been having the most random conversations with strangers. Possibly this is a result from spending time in a small village, where people acknowledge one another all the time. To me the people acting out seemed like lost souls, desperate for recognition and venting anger. So in Ireland I was relieved to switch off the screen and enjoy the quiet. Now I'm back and it's lovely to be here. The silver screen has a way of magnifying things, scale it down and law and order are once again in place, phew! Imagine if one rose was planted for every inch of damage that was caused ~ think how much more beautiful London would be. It's difficult to be angry when appreciating nature's beauty. 


Now back to Feeling Food!

Happily I’ve discovered a simple way to slip into serenity and find clarity amongst the madding crowd, a seemingly essential life skill to adopt in London or anywhere for that matter! Start each day with a sip of fresh juice or nectar. Freshen up for the day, whatever that means to you and gladly relish a bowl of gorgeous granola!!!

Last week I had a special request from a lovely lady, Gemma Fergie, for a good granola recipe. This is especially for you, Yummy Mummy, and all the other Yummy people out there! I’ve named it Roseanna’s Granola, after her darling little angel who was born yesterday! Welcome to the world beautiful honey bee
  
Rose

Oh, there is no sweeter scent than Natures favourite flower, Rose. She belongs to the same botanic family as apples, pears and raspberries, and gives a flavour that sweeps you into blooming contentedness. Rose extract brings a touch of Arabian magic, where food enchantment floats o’er. Roses are the flower of love.

Inspired by Roseanna, the special ingredient used in this recipe is, you guessed it, Rose extract, one of my all time favourite ingredients. The granola once made should be stored in an airtight container and will remain fresh and delicious for an age. 
























I love to scatter it on yogurt, or sometimes with a splash of oat milk, or when the moment calls, creamy full-fat milk. Mix it up, add some fresh seasonal fruits, or carry around this crunchy gorgeousness in a small container for a light and healthy snack. Most importantly enjoy!
Roseanna’s Granola

Sunflower oil, 2 tbsp
Sweet freedom/ maple syrup, 125ml
Honey, 2tbsp
Rolled oats, 300g
Rose extract, 1 tsp
Vanilla extract, 1 tsp
Sunflower seeds, 50g
Pumpkin seeds, 50g
Dried cherries, 60g
Dried cranberries, 60g
Dessicated coconut, 60g
PRE-HEAT oven to 130C/ gas 2.
MIX oil, sweet freedom, honey, vanilla extract, rose extract, seeds and rolled oats in a large bowl.
SCATTER onto two lined baking trays and spread evenly.
BAKE for 15 minutes.
REMOVE trays and scatter over remaining dried fruit and coconut, give everything a good mix.
BAKE for a further 15 minutes and allow to cool.
FOLD baking paper into a funnel shape and simply pour into an airtight container.
DIP into as you wish.

9 comments:

  1. Greetings,

    Delighted to hear you had a good break away from most things technology. It's true that in the city, most people sadly don't say hello to each other, but I do chat to my neighbours either side of my house whenever I see them so that's a start, sort of... :)

    Once a big disaster story like an earthquake, tsunami, flood, famine etc is featured is on the headlines for a few days, unfortunately it tends to disappear from the main coverage even though the people are still suffering & still need help.

    I work in a school with a sizeable amount of students whose parents [& in some case the pupils themselves] originally came from that affected part of eastern Africa, so before the summer break we had a food fair to raise some funds for the famine, so I certainly hope the school will do so again when we recommence in September. Just a shame it’s not much sooner.

    By the way, Roseanna’s Granola sure looks absolutely delicious. :)

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  2. Lucky you-Ireland is such a beautiful place, your pictures are stunning.
    Granola is a delicious hearty way to start the day and this recipe looks like a winner.

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  3. Hi Tim,

    Thank you for your comment. It's great to hear from you and your school sounds like an ideal place for learning - values are as important as exam results, if not more worthy. The food fair you mentioned strikes a chord with me, its forward thinking and must help build healthy principles. Between good teachers, balanced with good parenting, the world quickly becomes a better place.

    I'm delighted you like Roseanna's granola, healthy minds need hearty breakfasts:) !! Happy day to you:)

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  4. Thank you Tina for your comment. Ireland sings beauty to me in every way, I feel very blessed to have enjoyed the best of summer there. If you make the granola I'd love to hear how it goes:)

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  5. Oh what a lovely receipe. I just need to make it out the house with little Roseanna to buy the ingredients! Can't wait to mix up a dish inspired by my little addition to the world. Thank you so much feeling food, I feel very very honoured. X

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  6. Hi Gemma, so lovely to hear form you! Roseanna's granola recipe dish was inspired and is a happy morning breaky. i hope all is well with you and your bundle of joy, she's a muse already and beautiful like her Mummy:) Lots of love from Feeling Food:) I'll be writing some special recipes for babies too soon. Big hug FFX

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  7. I think I forgot to save...or maybe I can blame it all on my computer. Here's what I had to say.

    First, my husband would love the irony as I haven't made granola in over a year. It all started in 2008 during a trip to Copenhagen. We stayed at a lovely hotel where, included in the buffet breakfast, was granola with the choice of dried fruits and nuts to add. We loved it! We recreated those breakfast moments at home every Sat and Sun mornings with fruit, juice, coffee, and a little jazz. Ever since moving to France I haven't made any. The challenge is that we're never home long enough to enjoy it. (I know the granola will keep but the yogurt...)

    Re: the riots in London, and riots in general, I agree: if we were all more mindfull about the things we say, the company we keep, the energy we share, the world would be a different and even a better place. My husband and I don't watch or read the news often. We take in enough just to know what's going on in the world but we don't need that negative energy.

    Anyway, the recipe is lovely as is your post (as always). I may have to adopt it...asuming I get around to making granola again. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

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  8. Hi Tanya,

    What a lovely granola association:) It's a must that you make it again! For romance and any excuse to play jazz is worthwhile! I love it when a food memory almost transports one back to a happy time.

    This granola with rose scent is a sure winner for joyous times and is as nutritious as breakfasts get.

    Happy sunshine and summer love to you.

    FFX

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  9. What a delicious Granola recipe! Granola is a relatively recent discovery for me, I was usually a cereal and muesli girl. Instead of milk I have started to use yogurt with Granola, more specifically Activia Pouring Yogurt, which comes in a convenient carton just like milk! it's delicious, really worth a try http://bit.ly/klAS7i

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