Pumpkin Granola
Have you had enough pumpkin yet? I know I haven’t.
As we reflect on how great of a day Thanksgiving was for most of us, I want to leave you with one last fall recipe in 2019.
GUYS- I don’t know about you, but fresh, warm, home baked granola is one of my all time favs. Another of my favs is pumpkin pie. This recipe combines two of my loves into one plus all the warm spices my heart desires this time of year.
Let’s talk about cinnamon, ginger and gut health for a quick minute.
Ginger root has been used for centuries to soothe the GI tract and it works by encouraging normal intestinal movement while inhibiting abnormal GI movements like spasms.
In addition, ginger has been found to protect the stomach from ulcer-causing agents such as aspirin and certain “bad” bacteria’s such as H pylori.
PLUS some studies have suggested ginger increases the growth of beneficial bacteria, behaving like a prebiotic.
Cinnamon has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which we know can be linked to decreasing brain fog and increasing mood and energy.
Cinnamon also appears to exert beneficial affects on the gut by supporting a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria, while decreasing inflammatory effects of the “bad” ones.
Making and eating this granola is just another way you can add these spices to your diet, which promotes a healthier gut —> healthier brain —> healthier you! Happy Fall y’all!
Pumpkin Granola
INGREDIENTS
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups raw pecans
1/3 cup raw pepitas
3/4 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (see below for recipe to make your own)
1/4 cup olive or avocado oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup pumpkin purée
INSTRUCTIONS
preheat oven to 350 degrees F
mix the oats, nuts, spices, and salt together in a large bowl
in a small saucepan combine over medium-low heat, warm the oil, maple syrup, and pumpkin purée and whisk- pour over dry ingredients and quickly mix with wooden spoon
spread the mixture evenly into two baking sheets and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring a bit near the halfway point or rotate the pans at the halfway point for chunkier granola
once the granola is golden brown remove from oven and let cool completely- it will crisp up as it cools
transfer to airtight container (store up to 2 weeks)
Pumpkin Pie Spice
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground clove
1 pinch ground allspice
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
INSTRUCTIONS
mix all to combine
store in sealed container up to 6 months or in the refrigerator for longer
recipes adapted from minimalistbaker.com
