Recipe from book, Aging Bites (2017).

Nothing beats a morning filled with good friends, warm cups of tea, laughter and a bowl of crunchy, energizing granola. My good friend would serve this granola on a rainy Sunday morn- ing with thick, creamy, protein-rich greek yogurt (keeps you full and your may prevent osteoporosis we age) and a bowl full of fresh berries (antioxidants fight aging). Made with ingredients that please the tongue, fill the belly and nourish the body ‒ this is a granola for younger mornings. Happy mornings to all!

Ingredients:

4 cups rolled oats

2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

2 cups sliced raw almonds

1 cup pecans (or roasted cashews)

1⁄4 cup flax seeds

1/2 cup vegetable oil* (…better yet, try using 2-3 tbsp of coconut oil instead)

1/8 cup honey

1/8 cup maple syrup

1 cup dried apricots, chopped

1 cup dried cherries, chopped

1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 °F. Toss the oats, coconut and almonds in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil, maple syrup and honey in a small bowl. Pour the liquids, a little at a time, over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated. Put granola mixture onto a baking sheet and spread evenly over the pan. Bake, stirring occasion- ally (about every 8-10 minutes) with a spatula until the mixture turns a nice golden brown (about 30 minutes). Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool, stirring occasionally. In a large bowl, combine the dried fruit, seeds and nuts. Once granola has cooled add to the bowl with the other ingredients. Store in an airtight container.

Healthier Options:

Ready to take your anti-aging diet to the next level? Use coconut oil instead of canola oil in this recipe. Mmm…tasty and healthy! You can do it – take the risk and try eating a little healthier – you’ll appreciate it for years to come…Get it? For years to come! Oh, I find myself hilarious 🙂