SWEET TOOTH NO MORE OR NO SUGAR CINNAMON GRANOLA
It's Sunday. I am sipping my cup of black and snacking on granola bits. Whenever I crave for something sweet, I am in a pickle. Unless I made it myself, sweet is too sweet lately and I simply can't make myself eat it if my life depends on it.
You see, right about at the time Covid 19 changed our world, my husband got diagnosed with Diabetes. We decided to change things together, as a family, and our diet changed drastically.
It wasn't easy and we struggled but here we are. Cravings remained but the choice weren't there any longer. Everything was just too bloody sweet: ice-cream, cakes, muffins, you name it. So in came a collection of books and recipes with no sugar, carbs or gluten.
I am currently trying some recipes from "The Diabetes Weight Loss Cookbook" by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi. Some work, some I adjust as I go along.
This one is my take on Cinnamon Granola. If you'd like to give it a go, continue reading.
Cinnamon Granola
Makes approx. 450 g
2 dates, stoned and finely chopped
2 Tbsp boiling water
300 g mixed nuts
60 g mixed seeds
2 Tbsp flaxseeds (optional)
25 g unsweetened coconut
2 tsp vanilla extract
50 g unsalted butter/coconut oil
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
The recipe calls for the oven to be preheated to 200C fan. and bake granola for 10-12 minutes. I found it wasn't enough and had to turn it up and bake granola longer as I like mine crispy.
Instructions:
Put the dates into a large mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Do add more dates. Two wasn't enough for me. I have also tried replacing them with prunes. It also adds some sweetness and is way easier to mash up. Use a fork to mash them to a thick pulp. Add the remaining ingredients and mix.
I didn't follow the recipe to the t and threw everything I had in my pantry on a baking tray quite liberally. I had coconut, prunes, walnuts, sesame seeds, flax seeds and blanched almonds. As I wanted granola to go with yogurt and coffee, I did not add turmeric or pepper.
After I baked everything for a touch longer (till crispy) and had my first taste of it, I decided to add some Erythritol Monk Fruit blend sweetener and threw a handful or two of dried Gogi berries for a good measure. Granola was still quite warm and the sweetener melted right into the mix.
Wait till it cools, it tastes better. If you would like a bit of extra for your coffee, throw in some unsweetened chocolate bits.
Those not on a diabetes diet, can add some cranberries, raisins or whatever else your heart might desire. Don't I sound like Lucifer now? Ha ha. Who else binge watched the series?
Anyhow, it's great sprinkled on top of Greek yogurt, caramelized apples and pears or eaten in clusters as a side to your coffee.
Hope you'll enjoy it.
Svetlana.
