Plain Breakfast Granola

I told you guys that there would be some hardcore dieting going on in the next few weeks, and I'm not about to disappoint. This girl has gained an inordinate amount of weight over the fall semester which may come as no surprise to some of you who read my blog.

I'm trying to start out easy. With healthy things here and there, sprinkled about. I'm trying out moderation. Nothing too hardcore...yet. In the coming months I plan on becoming extremely dedicated to a healthier lifestyle. That may mean less butter, sugar, and flour. But I'm pretty sure it's going to come with prettier decorated cakes.

Here are some pictures of healthy things that are going on in my life.

Granola? Totes natural. Make some vanilla yogurt: plain Chobani mixed with Stevia, pure vanilla extract, and a touch of honey just to keep it real. Then add a sprinkle of homemade granola. Heaven on earth. Drink some coffee with stevia and a touch of milk. Have fruit. Make this a routine. I'm pretty sure if I work on getting this right for the next week, I'll be in a better place.

For now, this is a really great basic granola recipe to live by. Nothing fancy. Just good steel-cut oats, nuts, spice, honey, and vegetable oil for baking. Steel-cut oats are amazingly nutritious. It feels good. No lie, when my daughter took a bite of this for the first time she exclaimed, "Hey! This tastes like candy!" Enough said.

Plain Breakfast Granola

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey or Lyle's golden syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3 cups steel-cut or old-fashioned oats (not the quick-cooking kind)
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

Whisk together the oil, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Add in the oats and nuts and toss to coat. Spread in an even layer on a 9x13" baking sheet. Bake for about 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool completely before eating. Store in an airtight container. Use on yogurt, as cereal, or as a snack. Great and healthy in moderation!

Source: Sarah Cupcake original.