almond + coconut + white chocolate granola

 

i feel like every time i have cereal or granola, i am constantly sifting through it trying to pick out my favourite things. the clusters from honey bunches of oats, the almonds from special k, the marshmallows from lucky charms.. okay sorry, i am THAT person. like when you go to have breakfast & all the good stuff is magically gone from the box, hi. so i decided to make a breakfast granola that was full of ingredients i wouldn't have to sift through! a little mash up of all my favourite things; almonds, coconut & white chocolate. this is a simple granola perfect for any morning. serve it with a banana, fresh berries + almond milk & you got yourself the perfect breakfast! i know, white chocolate isn't the most healthy breakfast thing.. but it contains a very small amount, chopped into small pieces. so every time you get a bite, it's like a little sweet surprise! if you want to make this vegan, sub out the honey for agave & the white chocolate for vegan white chocolate or dark chocolate.

ingredients

  • 3 cups whole rolled oats
  • 100 grams white chocolate, chopped finely (i used one lindt bar)
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1 egg white (optional)

directions

  • preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • in a large mixing bowl add oats, white chocolate, coconut, almonds, cinnamon & nutmeg. stir until combined.
  • in a separate bowl whisk oil, honey, vanilla, milk & egg white.
  • add wet ingredients to dry ingredients & toss until evenly coated.
  • on a parchment lined tray, bake for 45 minutes. stir granola every 10 minutes for even baking.

BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE

 

hope you all had a great valentine's day & long weekend (even though it was thirty below zero in toronto)! why don't we kick off this short work week with a cake? there is an article, including the recipe for this banana chocolate cake over on pure green magazine! you can check it out here.

ingredients:

for the banana cake:

  • 5 very (very) ripe organic bananas, mashed
  • ½ cup organic unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2.5 cups raw sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 cups all purpose flour, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

for the chocolate frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 cups powdered cane sugar, or to taste (can substitute equal parts regular powdered sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions:

for the banana cake:

• preheat oven to 325 degrees. • on a large mixing bowl beat mashed bananas, butter, oil, sugar, eggs & vanilla until light & fluffy. • sift in baking soda, salt, flour & nutmeg. Stir until lump free. • evenly distribute batter between two greased 8 or 9-inch cake pans. • bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted clean. • let cool to room temperature before removing from pans & frosting.

for the chocolate frosting:

  • in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment beat butter, cocoa powder, sugar & vanilla fluffy. about 5-8 minutes.
  • frost cake as desired.

note: it is important to use very ripe bananas in this recipe. it will add a natural sweetness & a moist texture.

like what you see? get it here. speckled plates | speckled bowl | cake stand

POMEGRANATE + THYME SPRITZER

 

it's valentine's day this long weekend! & it's also apparently going to be -30 in toronto, SO maybe it's best to just cozy up inside with piles of blankets & this pomegranate + thyme spritzer! get the recipe over on west elm's front + main blog. happy valentine's, galentine's or whatever you want to call it!

ingredients

for the thyme syrup

  • 2-3 Sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup water

for the pomegranate thyme spritzer

  • ½ oz thyme syrup
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 2 oz pomegranate juice
  • 2 oz sparkling water
  • fresh thyme, as garnish
  • fresh pomegranate seeds, as garnish (optional)

directions

for the thyme syrup: in a sauce pan over medium heat combine thyme sugar & water. bring to a boil & remove from heat once the sugar has dissolved. let cool to room temperature & strain the thyme.

for the pomegranate thyme spritzer: fill glass with ice. add the syrup, vodka, juice & sparkling water. stir until combined & finish with a sprig of thyme & tablespoon of pomegranate seeds if desired.