Today is National Nut Day and, not so coincidentally, the October theme for The Recipe Redux is all about nuts!
And why not? Nuts are packed with protein, fiber, heart healthy fats, not to mention antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Studies have linked nut consumption to a variety of health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, hypertension, cancer, inflammation and helps lower cholesterol (and good news for women- it helps lower the risk of diabetes!). That’s a lot of goodness wrapped up in a tiny, tasty package!
I have kinda been absent from the blogging game for a while now. I wish I had a good excuse… or any excuse really. I have been enjoying my backyard – hiking, climbing mountains and camping, but as the first snow is gently falling outside, I am getting ready for a winter of hearty soups and stews and getting back into blogging. And this month’s theme for The Recipe Redux has given me just the jump-start I think I needed to get back into blogging.
I adore nuts, from peanuts to pistachios, walnuts to Brazil nuts, I cannot get enough of them! And this tasty, pumpkiny granola has plenty of nuts, plus every other fall flavor. The warm fall flavors and the nutty crunch make this the ideal breakfast granola.. or ice cream topping… or super snack. It’s a little indulgent, but the goodness of the nuts and the quinoa carry the dish and keep it on the healthier side.
- 2 TBSP Butter or Coconut Oil
- 1 TBSP Olive Oil
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Honey
- ¼ cup Pumpkin Puree
- 2 TBSP + ¼ cup Pumpkin Beer
- ½ cup Walnuts, chopped
- ½ cup Pecans, chopped
- ½ cup sliced Almonds
- ½ cup Peanuts
- 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberries
- ¾ cup Quinoa, rinsed but not cooked
- 1 TBSP Flax Seeds
- ¾ cup Old Fashioned Oatmeal
- Preheat oven to 300F.
- Heat butter, oil, sugar, honey, pumpkin puree and pumpkin beer over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat simmer until the color has deepened and the mixture is thick, about 8-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine nuts, pie spice, dried cranberries, quinoa and oats. Mix Well. Pour pumpkin mixture over the top and mix well to combine. Spread on a baking sheet covered with parchment and bake 18-23 minutes. Mixture should be a little gooey still, but will firm up as it cools. If it doesn't firm up, stick it back in the oven 5 minutes more.
What a delicious sounding granola! I like the idea of the crunchy quinoa in it.
Thanks Corina, I loooove how crunchy the quinoa is!
Glad you’re back in the blogging world 🙂 This granola looks like perfection! I’m intrigued by the addition of the pumpkin beer…..what purpose does it serve in the granola? This might be a granola-making game changer 😉
Thanks Rachel! I don’t know if it serves any purpose other than adding a nice, pumpkiny flavor. I just can’t get enough pumpkin this time of year!
Fabulous granola mix, and it looks so nourishing and filling too! OK-now I’m curious…where do you live that it’s snowing already? I’m just happy our heat wave here in Southern California has fizzled out, and it’s getting down into the 60’s at night 🙂
Thanks EA! We are up in the mountains- a small town about an hour outside Denver. But now its back up in the 50’s! Glad to hear you are finally experiencing some nice fall weather now too!