
“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” ~ Steve Jobs
My 2017 mantra is Focus and Simple! Keeping all aspects of my life clean, simple and clutter-free is something I have been aiming to achieve for a while. I am on the right path I know it – but I still tend to fall back on some old habits. That is why I have chosen to make 2017 a year where I consciously push out all the toxic junk and matter and open up to purity, to grace and to calmness.
My core desires are to feel balanced and relaxed – not allowing people and pressure to upturn my equilibrium. I want to keep my focus on issues that matter, energized by the good around me and radiate with the love that is bestowed upon me every day. My body, mind and soul shall be nourished appropriately – about that I feel strongly! Finally my goal to finding simplicity will be challenging as I tend – probably like many – to complicate things. I sometimes get trapped in my own head, thoughts and the heart too. I then need to really reboot myself to find an easier path or solution. While yoga and meditation, prayers and positivity and dietary modifications all help in that direction, there is no one magic pill. I am however, teaching myself to relax, to focus and to observe – to trust my own voice and be more self-aware, to understand that the things that are happening on the surface is a reflection of what is going on underneath. It is going to be an interesting year and I believe that this will be more of a lifetime goal but I hope that ultimately it will make me more in touch and self-ware of my thoughts and feelings to achieve that simplicity and focus.
Resolutions are never my thing – I do not do new year diets, dry January or detox, nor do I make resolutions to work out more and all that. Instead I always try to have focused goals and I truly believe in core desires – looking into myself and see what and how I want to feel, allowing this to be the guiding light for the future. A clean slate – some say – but really an opportunity to look back and readjust the sails for the journey ahead, finding the right wind to take you towards your dreams and goals.
What are your goals, resolutions or mantra for 2017?
While there are times when I will cook lengthy meals and traditional dishes – my style of cooking and my manifesto for food is keeping it simple. While organic is important I would rather have apples that are local/regional, grown on orchards in Thuringia (my region) than those organic apples that have been flown in from New Zealand. I believe in using fresh regional produce and ingredients to produce satisfying, good honest dishes. In my kitchen it seems I have found the key to simplicity!
As many know breakfast is my favorite meal of the day – in any form and at all times. I love eggs, savory pancakes as much as I love porridge, smoothies and muesli. Thick creamy almond yogurt, with a drizzling of raw honey, flavored with cinnamon and sesame, some fresh fruit and a crunchy topping of homemade granola – this is my most reliable and fancied breakfast indulgence.
This granola is a concentration of power food in one mix. It is grain-free, gluten-free, vegan and suits the Paleo diet – not that I am observing any of the above, but for those who need to watch for these restrictions it is an easy and simple way to get the most energizing power boost right at the start of the day. A creamy mix of almond butter and maple syrup coats the granola giving it a serious maple-y nutty crunch.
I was keen to make something that was not loaded with refined sugars and was not so high on the carbs as during the week I like to keep the carb level on the lower side of the scale. The best part is – this is not just a breakfast topper but is great on desserts or just to snack on all on its own.
I made a wonderful almond-y creamy dessert and a beautiful elegant smoothie bowl where the crunchy mix plays a vital role and I will be sharing those recipes in the coming weeks. For now though double the batch and store bags of this everywhere from your office to your car – perfect for the kids’ lunchboxes and great snacking for a movie night on the sofa. Enjoy!
If you are a breakfast person like me I know you will just love my Big on Breakfast - The Big Breakfast Post with several ideas for the first - second or even last meal of the day. Many of my friends on the social networks have also shared their ideas of a perfect breakfast.
Recipe: Almond Butter Seed Fruit and Nut Granola
By Meeta K. WolffPrep Time:
Total Time:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
- 235g coconut flakes
- 250g almonds, coarsely chopped
- 125g pecan nuts, coarsely chopped
- 125g cashew nuts
- 125g sunflower seed
- 125g pumpkin seed
- 100g sesame seeds
- 75g goji berries
- 100g dried cranberries
- 100g dried apricots, coarsely chopped
- 55g coconut oil, melted
- 60 ml maple syrup
- 60g almond butter
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of fleur de sel
Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
- Place all the nuts and seeds, cinnamon and fleur de sell in a large mixing bowl and mix together well, put aside.
- Melt the coconut oil for about 30 seconds in the microwave, or alternative in a pan over low-heat. Pour this into a small ball, followed by the maple syrup and the almond butter. With a spatula mix well.
- Slowly pour wet mixture over dry ingredients, stirring to combine and coat all the nuts and seeds with the wet mixture.
- Spread granola out onto a greased baking tray and bake in oven for a total of 20 minutes stopping to stir after 10 minutes. After 15 minutes take out of the oven for one last time and add the dried fruit and coconut flakes, stir and put back in the oven.
- Allow granola to cool completely before transferring it into an airtight container. It can be stored in a cool dry place for up to 2 weeks.
- You can use a variety of nuts and seeds for this granola. Use walnuts or pistachios. In terms of seeds I often add flax seeds or chia seeds.
- Of course the same applies to the fruit - dried cherries, mulberries or blueberries are great as are dates and figs.
- Try raw dark chocolate coarsely chopped or cocoa nibs. Add this only after the granola has cooled down completely.
Verdict

The subtle element of the fleur de sel is just beautiful here – it adds lovely slightly savory dimension to the granola. The flavor possibilities here however are quite endless and every time I have indulged in my yogurt snack I feel – light and full of energy. Rich in energy, protein, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and much discussed omega-3 fatty acids, nuts and seeds have it all. This is really the simple way of being healthy!
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You might like these granola and muesli ideas from WFLH:
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2017 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First
That granola looks really good, as a snack or breakfast. I've made granola only once, and I don't know why I stopped, since I loved it so much. I have to try your recipe.
ReplyDeleteGranola looks so good and such gorgeous clicks!
ReplyDeleteLove these photos. The granola looks so packed full of fruit. Heavenly.
ReplyDeleteGranola is one of my favorite "treats" to snack on! Your recipe looks and sounds amazing, filled with some of my favorite ingredients like dried apricots, cashews and coconut flakes! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think keeping it simple is a great manifesto for 2017! The granola looks really wonderful too and I'd certainly love it!
ReplyDeleteI am a hands down breakfast person. Just love it..
ReplyDeleteNew year resolution was to get back to blogging somehow and since then following it and hope there is no looking back.. loved you blog and gonna follow you hereon.. :)
I love making my own granola and it is my breakfast of most days. I love that you have added almond butter though - so much more nutrition than just using more oil to bring it all together. Lovely recipe!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so good. I love homemade granola, so I will be giving this one a try!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures takes me back in the middle of the autumn and I truly love that! And I bet those granola are delicious! I want my fall back!
ReplyDeleteOh my!! that homemade granola looks absolutely delish. For some reason, I like tio munch on dry granola and this seems like the best kind to munch on throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteThis looks pretty tasty! I enjoy everything in this so I imagine I'd be a fan.
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious - my girls and I love granola on our yogurt too! There's just something yummy about that creamy/crunchy combo! I didn't know almond yogurt was a thing though ... I'm gonna have to look into that.
ReplyDeleteOK, I think this will be my favorite granola ever. Love the focus on simplicity. Can't wait to try this healthy, yummy treat. Perfect for our upcoming hiking trip in the mountains of Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteI love nuts this recipe is for me, Thank you for sharing .
ReplyDeleteMmm now this looks absolutely amazing! We're big granola fans in our house so I'll have to try your recipe out. Yum!
ReplyDeleteAlmond and granola have a lot of health benefits and I would definitely love to eat every dessert or dishes made with it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful and nourishing granola. I'd definitely get out of bed early for a bowl!
ReplyDeletePinned this. Sounds delicious and versatile. As for my "mantra" for the year...focus, keep it simple, and breathe.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of keep it simple as a guidepost for the year. It's so easy to overcomplicate things. This granola sounds delightful!
ReplyDeleteI love your goals for the new year, and for life. I'm the same way about resolutions, generally setting my sights on where I'd like to see myself in the future, rather than hard and fast shorterm goals like losing weight or exercising more. This year I did something kind of in between, though -- I did set a goal to do more yoga and meditation, but rather than say "I want to lose weight" or "I want to get stronger" I tried to think of it this way: I want these things to become a part of me, a daily habit that will lead to a healthier mind and body. This way, my goal is to form healthy habits, rather than "work out every day" or something impossible like that. I love your mantra, too -- I haven't settled on a word or phrase for the new year, but the one I often find myself leaning towards is "authenticity". To be myself and not worry what others think. Definitely a life goal for me. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and this granola... *swoon*. I could eat this every day and be happy! Thank you for sharing it!
This looks delicious. I love your mantra, that you are trying to keep things clean and clutter free. I am going to add this to my life soon. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteEating breakfasts everyday is my 2017 goal and so far it's been great! And this granola would be a wonderful addition to my breakfast list!
ReplyDeleteYUMMMMM. I was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic so I'm looking for delicious low carb treats. This fits the bill perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely delicious! I love granola. And your photography is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteMmm, this looks delicious! Great for rushed mornings if you make it the day before.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a nice, healthy and power breakfast. A great start for the day that will ensure a great day.
ReplyDeleteThis is something I could eat every day for breakfast. Looks delicious!
ReplyDeletejust made it and LOVE it !!!! also loved reading your post (YES to focus and simple !), and i also loved rereading that big mega awesome breakfast post of yours from 2015 - fun to see my contribution back then, which is clearly the same today. three cheers for granola ! three cheers for this awesome recipe, which i am calling a total keeper. thank you so much for sharing, meeta. love the texture - a mix of crunchy and crumbly. fruity, nutty, sweet but not too sweet, the undertone of coconut, and as you said - that touch of salt just brings it all together. i have only yet eaten it from the baking sheet. can't wait to have it with milk, yogurt, ice cream and more ! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome to be able to make granola in advance and to use it in different dishes. I love having it in smoothie bowls or greek yogurt!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely looks yummy! I really want to try this on our breakfast. Glad you share this
ReplyDeleteThis is so easy and delicious!! I definitely try it :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely and yummy! Easy to make too
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love your mantra for 2017—there's a lesson for me there! This granola is a feast for the eyes as well. It sounds absolutely delicious and so, so healthy! Yum!
ReplyDelete