Remember waking up early, sneaking downstairs to make your mom a special Mother’s Day Breakfast in bed? The quality of the breakfast was usually commensurate with the age. My specialty was drop biscuits with jam. Still one of my favorites go to breakfasts even today.
I remember my kids brining me flowers from the yard and burnt cheese on burnt toast. And I loved it! I loved hearing them scamper about the kitchen, trying desperately to be quite in their loudest ‘yell whispers’. And their rushed foot steps and giggles as they came into my bedroom. Like any good mom, I would pretend to be asleep only to awaken like a Disney Princess with sheer delight when I awoke to find my morning treat.
There is nothing like the love of a mom; a built in best friend that has you at the center of her world as she lovingly takes you through all of life’s highs and lows. This year my life was made so much better by the love showered upon me by so many moms- my mom (who seldom left my side), my step mom (who looked after me as if I was her daughter), my mother-in-law (who filled in at a moment’s notice to help), and my God Mother (who often changed her schedule to help me look my best).
Cancer kicks your ass in a big way, that’s a fact. And yet when you are ensconced in a bubble of positivity, laughter, good food and love you realize how important your mom is and how the love of all of those other significant mom’s buoy’s your spirits. The upside of cancer is all of those special moments you create with family and fiends when you are at your most fragile self. It may sound odd, but if you cobble those moments together it is like hitting pay dirt. Just like breakfast in bed made by your children. It is magical.
Breakfast and brunch are amongst my favorite meals of the day and if you follow my blog regularly, you know that. This year, I share with you my latest crazy invention – Sassy RED Spicy Granola. I know that that this may not be everyone’s vision of a great breakfast treat, but today is about ME and well, I like savory flavors in the morning mixed with a hint of sweet. Perhaps I am just ahead of my time….or peculiar!
Either way, meet your new granola. The hot and spicy mixture has a kick to and makes for a savory and sweet breakfast or brunch or snack treat depending on your mood. Sprinkle it over fresh fruit, toss it into a salad, and stir it into your yogurt with a dollop of your favorite jam to give it a hint of sweetness. It has one-third the amount of sugar and can certainly be made less spicy if you prefer less sass in your granola. Looking for a fun snack? Toss some in a bowl with popcorn and lightly coat with melted coconut oil. It’s a lip smacker.
Note: To make a Paleo version you can remove the oats, quinoa and nutritional yeast and replace with added nuts and seeds.
Sassy RED Spicy Granola
Ingredients
1 ¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats, gluten free
½ cup pecan halves, coarsely chopped
½ cup walnut halves, coarsely chopped
½ cup dry roasted sunflower seeds
3 TBS red quinoa, uncooked
2 TBS olive oil
2 TBS brown rice syrup (can substitute honey or maple syrup)
¾ tsp thyme
1 tsp kosher salt
1 ½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 ½ tsp cardamom
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp all spice
2 tsps nutritional yeast (optional)
1 TBS psyllium husk (optional)
1 large egg white
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9×13 Pyrex with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl combine oats, nuts, seeds and quinoa.
In a separate bowl combine olive oil, and all remaining spices adding the egg white last. Whisk well to combine; mixture will look a little cloudy.
Pour wet mixture over dry mixture and coat well being certain not to leave any spices on the bottom of the bowl.
Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once half way through. Allow to cool before breaking up into clumps.
