New Year
Well, the Christmas decorations are packed away.
Not that there were many.
As each year goes by, there seem to be fewer decorations chez fenland lottie!
This year, there was just a small potted tree with twinkly lights and a beautiful handmade fairy from Gina ( at Fan my Flame) and in the dining room some greenery picked from the garden and draped artfully about by mr digandweed!
And there were candles. Lots of candles.
My enthusiasm for decorating the entire house seems to have dwindled with age!
So here we are in January and a bit of a post Christmas clear out of the kitchen cupboards was called for.
Not that there were many.
As each year goes by, there seem to be fewer decorations chez fenland lottie!
This year, there was just a small potted tree with twinkly lights and a beautiful handmade fairy from Gina ( at Fan my Flame) and in the dining room some greenery picked from the garden and draped artfully about by mr digandweed!
And there were candles. Lots of candles.
My enthusiasm for decorating the entire house seems to have dwindled with age!
So here we are in January and a bit of a post Christmas clear out of the kitchen cupboards was called for.
It turns out I had accumulated rather a lot of dried fruit and nuts, mainly almonds, pistachios and dried cranberries. so homemade granola it was.
Cranberry, almond and cinnamon granola.
I adapted this favourite recipe from Deliciously Ella.
My ingredients were:
2 and half cups of oats
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup pistachios
1 generous cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup cocoa nibs
1/2 cup coconut flakes
3 tblsp coconut oil
3 tblsp maple syrup
3 teasp cinnamon
Chop the nuts (which I found best to do by hand) then place in a bowl with all the other dry ingredients except the dried cranberries, coconut, cocoa nibs and cinnamon.
Melt the coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon in a small saucepan, then pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spread onto a baking sheet and bake at 180c for about 30 minutes, stirring from time to time until golden and toasty.
When cool, stir in the cocoa nibs, coconut flakes and dried cranberries and store in an airtight jar.
I also had some fresh cranberries in the freezer leftover from making cranberry sauce, so I cooked them gently in a pan with a dash of sugar .
I served my granola with yoghurt and a dollop of the fresh cranberries.
If you want to try the recipe, I think you will find it's quick and easy (and very adaptable).
Wishing you all a happy. healthy and peaceful 2019.
Speak soon.
Annie
x
I thought I'd scaled down the decorating this year, too, but there seemed to be more boxes than ever to go back up in the loft. Your granola looks delicious (love that bowl!). Unfortunately, no leftover nuts here as I've eaten the lot. Happy New Year. I hope it's one of the best for you.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing has happened here too. How come I've still got three boxes to go in the space they all came from???
DeleteChristmas decorations do seem to have a way of multiplying when your back is turned! Glad you like the bowl Liz - it's from John lewis!
DeleteI went with minimalism this year as far as any decorations went. In fact it was so minimal you wouldn't have noticed it was Christmas. The granola looks delicious, and I love that you did cranberries as well. Did you grow them? Something I've thought about trying to grow. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI've never thought of growing cranberries. I must look into that.
DeleteI'm glad it's not just me, my enthusiasm for a houseful of decorations has dwindled too. Your granola looks delicious. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane. Happy new year.
DeleteEvery year I say there will be no tree but this year's was bigger and more full of baubles than ever. Can't get out of it with a Tao year old around.
ReplyDeleteThe granola looks very tempting. Alas no leftovers though so would have to get to the shops. Perhaps when I've emptied the freezer...?
The more baubles the merrier when small children are concerned!
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