Quinoa Applesauce Granola....aka "Mommy's Birdseed"

We've been traveling so much this summer that I've almost forgotten how to cook!  We've had some incredible trips - Sydney, Australia (our youngest daughter was granted a wish from the Children's Wish Foundation....that's a whole other amazing story in itself!), camping, CreationFest Music festival in Washington State, we ministered at a Kid's Camp in the Cypress Hills of Alberta, traveled to Yellowstone National Park, then across Idaho & Oregon states, and finally ended at Mount St Helen's in Washington.  What incredible sights we've seen!  However, I learned in Australia that eating out three times a day is actually quite tiresome, and "canned something or the other" while we're camping might be the easiest way to go, but it's not the healthiest!

I decided to get my "Mom Starting From Scratch" groove started again by making my favourite breakfast, "Quinoa Applesauce Granola", which the kids call, "Mommy's Birdseed".  There's no oil and no sugar added and it's amazing!  I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the back deck with my beloved early this morning enjoying a bowl with Greek yogurt and blueberries.

 I adapted my recipe from a blog called Food and Whine (thank you!), but skipped on adding any sugar, honey or sweeteners.  In my opinion, it really doesn't need it!

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
1 & 1/2  cups no sugar added applesauce

This recipe is just a guide!  You can add whatever nuts, seeds, or grains you like. You can also toss in dried fruit like cranberries, apricots or raisins after it has cooked and cooled.

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 250F.
2.  Combine ingredients and spread onto 2 baking sheets.  You can line with parchment paper if you
     wish.
3.  Bake for 45 minutes, stirring granola every 10 minutes until it is golden brown. (Don't walk away
    from the kitchen and get busy doing something else!)
4.  Remove from oven and let cool on sheets. It will become more crispy as it cools.  Add dried fruit
     if you wish.
5.  Store in sealed container in cupboard.

This granola is so satisfying with some plain Greek yogurt.  Start your day with this and you won't find yourself craving a sugary mid morning snack.  It's also good cold with milk or even warmed slightly in the microwave.  Enjoy!

Starting from Scratch in 3, 2, 1....

For the last several years I've had a deepening desire to seriously change up the way I run my life and my home, as an ordinary, harried, suburban mother of three.  But "serious change" seems so...well... daunting.  I'm intrigued and inspired by all the philosophies behind those fancy buzzwords like sustainability, eco chic, the 100 mile diet, frugal living, going green, minimalism, zen habits, living off grid, clean eating and the list goes on.  But could a mini-driving, stay at home, three children chasing, house in the 'burbs ordinary mom really experience the life I'm imagining?  That less will in fact be more?  That I can be the change that I want to see in the world?  Or will the tyranny of the urgent become the thing that drives me to the fast food lane at the Golden Arches, wearing my made in China cheap runners bought at Wal-Mart?

I want MORE out of life...by spending less, consuming less, wasting less, and stressing LESS.  I'm gonna try.  I'm starting from scratch in 3, 2, 1.....

Is the grass greener on the other side?