Grounding granola

There are few things I enjoy more whole heartedly than food and spending my time around the wonderful children in my life. A close friend of mine recently had a baby and it has been the highlight of my past two months.

The thing is those little beings may be small, but they require a lot. Taking care of new moms and families is a lost care and healing modality in our lives. It reminded me of just how much we’ve lost community. It has been a while since my closest people had babies. My nephews are now tall teens, my other good friends’ wonderful twin girls are now in the double-digit ages and I live in denial and sadness over the new mama new baby stage. The early weeks, fuzzy times of milk-stained tops, messy hair and actually no notion of time as we believe it to be. The beauty of that newborn baby bubble. Support is the thing that holds this bubble up and it is a wonderfully fulfilling time for so many of us to be allowed into this inner sanctum. The cardinal calling card, though, is bring food, please.

I have long been interested in how much food nourishes our bodies, while healing and comforting; and what different foods do to the body. We have tested it firmly with my new mama friend: No garlic in meals if you’re breastfeeding. The rules have been explosive and unpleasant, the old wives were correct on this one. I guess they tested it too.

It’s best to play to your strengths in these times. I know how to cook and cooking for my people is a love language I’m adding to the established list of five. I’ve been increasingly interested in the post-partum food. My go-to has always been to do a roasted butternut, sweet potato and roast chicken for the fresh families, but I’ve been reading about post-partum in south Asian culture and how they treat the new mother and support her body with meals during the fourth trimester.

Granola is a food that’s often not available to me, as I have a coconut allergy. Most granolas have so many forms of sugar in them that it’s no longer viable as a healthy start to the day.

This granola is delicious and decadent and so wonderful to make. I made it on a slow Sunday, barefoot in my kitchen, doors open, music playing, while I prepped fennel laden food for my lactating friend. Matrescence is such a wonderful gift to bear witness to and commune with. This granola makes such a glorious treat for friends nursing or not.

It is coated in peanut butter which is such a departure from the norm, but I do love the opportunity to add more protein into a meal or a snack.

Ingredients: Grounding Granola

1. 2 x cups of rolled oats
2. ½ cup chopped nuts of your choice
3. ¼ cup black sesame seeds
4. ½ cup salted butter
5. 1 cup smooth peanut butter
6. ¼ cup raw cocoa
7. ¾ teaspoon sea salt
8. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
9. Pinch of ground nutmeg
10. Crushed cardamom pod
11. 2 x tablespoons of raw honey

Method:

• Pre heat the oven to 155ºC.
• Grease a flat oven dish or two trays, depending how much you’re making.
• Melt the butter over low heat until liquid.
• Ensure all other ingredients are at room temperature.
• In a large bowl, mix the oats, peanut butter, raw cocoa, seeds, spices, honey, nuts and butter together until well combined.
• Spread this onto your greased tray.
• Place in the oven for one hour, stirring every 10 minutes, so it does not catch or burn. Keep an eye on it. Stay close to the kitchen.
• After an hour check if it’s golden brown in colour and has reached a little crisp (it may not dry out completely because of the wet ingredients).
• Remove from the oven and place the tray on a surface to cool down.
• Enjoy as a crispy snack or enjoy with some plain yoghurt and berries.

High five yourself at this accomplishment. There is something so deeply gratifying about knowing you can make granola, it is such a wonderfully cathartic experience, and makes you feel a little bit like a domestic goddess.