This recipe is a beautiful and healthy creation to enjoy as a snack, dessert, or compliment to a main meal. All three components can be adjusted to your taste or to what ingredients you have available in the house.

GRANOLA RECIPE:

STEP ONE – Preparations

1. Preheat the oven to 250°F.
2. Cover two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Get out a large mixing bowl and a small mixing bowl.

STEP TWO – Bake the Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups of old-fashioned oats
2 cups of chopped or whole nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.)
1 cup of shredded coconut
¼ cup of brown sugar
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ cup of liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar)
¼ cup of canola or extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of sea salt

Instructions:

1. In the large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, nuts, coconut, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
2. In the small mixing bowl, combine the liquid sweetener, oil, and salt.
3. Add the liquid ingredients to the large bowl and mix well to combine.
4. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes until the granola is golden-brown.

STEP THREE – Prepare the Mix-Ins

Ingredients:

1 cup of dried fruit cut in small pieces (raisins, cranberries, cherries, mango, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Mix together any combination of dried fruit of your choice.

STEP FOUR – Assemble

1. In a large bowl, toss together the granola and dried fruit.
2. Let the final product completely cool before putting it away in an airtight container.

PARFAIT ASSEMBLY:

Ingredients:

Granola
Yogurt (strawberry, vanilla, etc.)
Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Find a fun glass, cup, or jar to use for the parfait.
2. Layer a couple of tablespoons of yogurt on the bottom.
3. Top with fruit, then a couple of tablespoons of granola.
4. Repeat this process with another layer.
5. Put the parfait in the refrigerator until it’s ready to eat.

Recommended serving size: 1 parfait

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 dairy*

*With Greek yogurt, 1 starch and 1 dairy are substituted for 2 proteins