Before I tell you about #WakeUpToOrganic and the two recipes I have created, I thought I would also introduce to you my shiny new look blog, what do you think?
Up until now, I have had the last theme for FOUR years, as long as I have had my blog, so I thought it was about time to freshen up, move onwards and hopefully upwards with my blog. I hope you like “How to cook good food” in it’s new format and that you find it easier on the eye and simpler to navigate.
In other news, I had a blast on Wednesday morning, serving the good people of Spitalfields my organic granola and sunshine smoothie at As Nature Intended. #WakeUpToOrganic – raising awareness of organic products in partnership with The Organic Trade Board and The Soil Association. Breakfast was the focus of this campaign. I believe this is the perfect way to introduce organic products into your weekly food shop. As the campaign names suggests, waking up to an organic breakfast is an affordable way to start your day the organic way.
To illustrate this, I have created two simple recipes based on organic ingredients, which are affordable and will also work out cheaper than buying ready prepared smoothies and granola yoghurt pots either on your way to work or shopping at your local supermarket/food retailer. After all, granola and smoothies are not cheap morning purchases and manufacturers play on this.
If you do decide to make your own sunshine smoothies/granola using organic products, it would not increase your weekly shopping budget by as much as you think . Try it, not only will they taste superb but they will contain far less added ingredients and you will be in charge of the sugar content.
I decided to create both a granola and a sunshine smoothie to promote this campaign for two reasons. One, they are suitable for all ages and cooking abilities. Two, they are perfect organic breakfasts that can be easily transported to work, school, picnics or to be enjoyed at home.
I can vouch for this, I transported about 3 kilos of granola from Surrey to East London without a hitch. As for the smoothies, all I needed was my trusty stick blender. The rest took place in seconds at the store. Only a bowl was required to blend my sunshine smoothie creation.
If you are someone who thinks of organic food as expensive and unrealistic for the regular consumer then think again. I am a regular consumer. I just make sensible choices with my food and shopping. I never buy take-aways and the only ready meals I buy are the occasional Pizza Express pizzas from the supermarket when I am beyond exhausted.
This provides me with enough spare money to buy selected organic ingredients on a weekly basis. I opt for ingredients such as milk, eggs, oats, yoghurt, fruit. Breakfast can be an organic option. All you have to do is plan a little and buy less of the ready made.
I am linking my sunshine smoothie to SIMPLE AND IN SEASON with Ren Behan.
Here are some other granola recipes from out there on the net:
Good Morning Granola – Rough Measures
Cherry Coconut Granola – Maison Cupcake
Hazelnut & cranberry granola – The Botanical Baker
Apple Granola – Recipes from a pantry
Fruit & Nut Granola – Elizabeth’s kitchen diary
Chocolate granola cakes – Fab Food 4 All
Tracy’s Granola – It’s not easy being greedy
Recipes commissioned by The Organic Trade Board.
Sunshine Smoothie – Serves 2
1 nectarine chopped
8 strawberries hulled & chopped
1 x 2 inch piece of cucumber roughly chopped
1 orange peeled & chopped
1 apple peeled & chopped
1 x small piece of ginger peeled and grated
1tbsp honey
1tbsp ground chia seeds
1 cup of coconut water
Place all of the above ingredients into a high powered blender, or a jug if using a hand held blender, and blend until the smoothie is thoroughly smooth and to the required consistency.
Organic Granola
A crunchy, nutritious breakfast idea
Ingredients
- 200 g oats I use a mixture of 150:50 regular oats:jumbo oats
- 50 g puffed brown rice
- 25 g mixed seeds
- 25 g coconut flakes
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 150 ml maple syrup
Instructions
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Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees
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Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment
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Weigh out the oats, puffed rice, mixed seeds and coconut flakes and place in a large mixing bowl
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Put the coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt and maple syrup into a saucepan and heat until the coconut oil has melted then pour this mixture over the oat mixture and combine thoroughly
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Tip the granola onto the lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes
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After 15 minutes stir the granola well with a spoon and move the outer edges into the middle to create an even colour
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Cook for a further 15 minutes then remove the granola and let it cool completely before pouring it into a Kilner jar or a Tupperware.
Recipe Notes
When the granola is cooked you can add any dried fruits or nuts to it. This is just the base recipe so embellish with goodies you love.
Serve with natural yoghurt, fresh fruit or milk depending on your taste.
Pleased to see that you are helping the The Organic Trade Board and The Soil Association in raising awareness – and I am looking forward to trying granola with some puffed brown rice as it sounds rather nice.
Thanks Bintu, the puffed rice does add a lovely texture to it 🙂
Love the blog’s new look, very sleek! 🙂 And I could just go for a big glass of your smoothie right now, it looks so refreshing!
Pleased you like it Becca 🙂
The new design looks great Laura. I agree that it’s better to spend a little more on better quality food rather than too much junk. The granola and smoothie look like a great way to start the day, I need to start making my own granola!
Thanks Jen, you would get so much more for your money by making granola, it’s so expensive to buy in comparison.
Hi Laura, I like your granola recipe a lot, sounds easy to do and delicious. I agree with what your saying, I do cook home made food and do resort to a take away very rarely. I have slowly moved onto buying various organic ingredients and I find that I rarely if ever encounter food waste as I plan my shopping better!
Thanks Manjiri, the granola is very easy to make and it’s great that you plan your food well and don’t have much to waste. Very satisfying 🙂
Love the new look! I completely agree with buying organic, it doesn’t have to cost the earth. People buy so much processed and ready made ‘convenience’ food, without thinking about what it’s really doing to them!
Your granola and smoothie look mouth wateringly good!
Thanks for featuring my recipe 🙂
True Sus, by the time you buy a couple of ready meals per week you probably would have spent more than you would making a week’s granola & smoothies!
Sounds like you had great fun on your day out! Loving the new website. I don’t know why I haven’t made granola yet, your lush looking photos may just be the push I need! Thanks for linking up to my Chocolate Granola Cakes:-)
I am surprised to hear you haven’t made granola before Camilla, I know you would love it and so would your family 🙂
Your smoothie looks so good, what an amazing colour! I also really like the blog’s new look, it is very smart. Thanks for linking to my granola too.
Hi Lucy, thanks. Smoothies do make great colourful drinks!
Love the new format Laura and love your summery granola recipes 🙂
Thanks Urvashi :))
This looks amazing ! I wish my every morning could be greeted with one of these
Thanks Claire, that would be great!
Love the recipe and the pictures! I don’t think that I ever had a granola smoothie though, sounds yum!
Granola smoothie, neither have I. I have had granola and smoothie though!