INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups organic rolled oats*
- ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
- ½ cup raw pepitas
- ¾ cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut (half/half is a good combination)
- 1 cup mixed raw nuts (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 2 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for dusting apple.
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric (optional, gives a nice yellow colour)
- 1 apple (green or red) peeled, quartered and sliced (can omit if wanting fruit free)
Optional extras:
- ½ cup currants or sultanas
- ½ organic buckwheat groats
- 1 tbsp psyllium husks
- ½ cup diced dried apricots
- ½ cup chia seeds
*use Gluten Free Oats if Coeliac or Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity.
METHOD
- Preheat oven to 120°C, line a large baking tray.
- Place the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, coconut and nuts in a large bowl. Melt the coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and then pour over oat mix and stir thoroughly to coat.
- Add turmeric to mix now if using.
- Transfer mix to baking tray and spread evenly on tray. Dust apple with cinnamon and add to top of oat mix on tray.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour, or until lightly golden/toasted. Stir every 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool, mix will harden a little more as it cools. Add in any optional extras now and store in airtight jar or container until ready to eat.
Notes
Cinnamomum verum, commonly known as cinnamon, naturally supports balancing blood sugar levels and its volatile oil content makes it useful as an antispasmodic and carminative (relieves gas and intestinal spasm). Naturopaths and Herbalists use it for conditions relating to blood sugar such as diabetes, insulin resistance (when your cells become resistant to insulin signal and the uptake of glucose) and metabolic syndrome. It can also be useful for digestive issues with weakness, as it is warming to the digestive tract and it is beneficial for painful menstruation with cramping (dysmenorrhoea).