Peanut butter, banana and Goji berries granola

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a health nut by any means.

However, I like to think that I'm taking care of my body as much as possible (a mid-30s body is a temple one should respect!): I exercise, I have a thorough skin care routine and when it comes to what I eat I try to think in terms of nutritious fueling - as well as papillary satisfaction, of course.

I've grown a little tired of my regular boiled oatmeal, however delicious it is sprinkled with a little salt and a few shavings of aged cheddar or Parmesan. So when I bought a bag of Goji berries on a whim last week (never heard of them before), I decided to hop on the homemade granola train and satisfy my craving for a healthy delicious breakfast that doubles as a sweet nutritious snack.

Here's my recipe for peanut butter, banana and Goji berries homemade granola. Enjoy!



INGREDIENTS (yields about 3 cups of granola):
- 2 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
- 1/2 cup of banana chips
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1/3 cup Goji berries
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- a pinch of salt


RECIPE:
- preheat your oven to 350F
- in a large bowl, mix all the ingredients until well blended

- spread evenly in a non-stick baking dish (you can use a little oil-spray if you want to prevent sticking)

- bake for 10 minutes at 350F, stir once and bake for another 10 minutes at 350F

- let cool completely before storing in an air-tight container
Note: it was my first time making granola and I did not think that the dried berries would crisp up after baking (granola-rookie mistake, I guess). For chewier, softer berries, bake the granola without the berries and add them after the granola has cooled.
- delicious as is for a snack, or sprinkled over yoghurt and drizzled with a little maple syrup, agave syrup or honey for breakfast
- enjoy!