My Heart & Granola Recipe

MY HEART

Recently, I have been wrestling with the complacency and numbness in my heart. I have been approaching the Living Word of God with a mental checklist rather than an open opportunity to be fulfilled and supplied with what I need. Although I have an awareness to this, I feel as though it has become a subtle pattern in my heart and mind. I am sharing this because I think we all have moments or seasons where the truth of the Gospel isn’t penetrating our hearts in a raw way like once before. 

Through these feelings, I have been asking the King of the Universe to reveal Himself in new ways so that I can have a fresh perspective while reading the Bible. The most vibrant and tangible way I have experienced Jesus is through the solitude of prayer. I have always been a person who has struggled with solitude because of the truth that might be revealed or the fear of not hearing anything. Amidst the slow process of desperation and desiring to break the chains of complacency, I am learning how to deny my insecurities and simply take a risk.

There have been several times that I have battled my numbness by stepping into solitude with Jesus. Through that time, He has reminded me of who I am and how immensely He loves.

If you are or have encountered similar feelings, I strongly encourage you to take time away from busyness, technology, and any other distractions and set aside time for just you and Jesus. I am still learning what this looks like and how to intentionally pursue this time, but through the little victories I am gaining a deeper perspective on how valuable this is to me.  

MAPLE GRANOLA RECIPE

Since being married I have been trying to learn more about cooking and how to make yummy yet healthy and holistic meals. I have discovered that making yummy snacks such as granola is one of my favorite pastimes. It can be so satisfying to enjoy things that taste good and are healthy for your body. 

This is a recent recipe that I made that has the perfect combination of sweet, crunchy, and salty. It’s also not super oily and heavy which is an added bonus. Out of all the possible snack options, granola is definitely a go to. 

*Disclaimer this recipe was derived from a variety of other granola recipes

Ingredients:

·      3 Cups Rolled Oats

·      1 Cup Buckwheat Groats

·      1 Cup Roughly Chopped Pecans

·      ½ Cup Sunflower Seeds

·      1 ½ Cup Coconut flakes

·      3 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar

·      2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

·      2 Teaspoons Vanilla extract

·      2 Tablespoons Chia Seed

·      1/3 Cup Pure Maple Syrup

·      3 Tablespoons Almond Butter

·      1/4 Cup Unrefined Coconut Oil, Melted

·      3 Tablespoons Honey

·      1 Teaspoon Salt 

Directions: 

-Preheat Oven 325°F

-Line baking sheet with Parchment Paper

-In a decent size bowl combine Oats, Buckwheat Groats, Pecans, Sunflower Seeds, Coconut Flakes, Chia, Coconut Sugar, Salt, and Cinnamon.

-In a small saucepan melt the Coconut oil over low heat

-Once melted remove from heat and add in Almond butter, Honey, Maple, and Vanilla. Keep whisking until smooth (Depending on consistency I sometimes add the saucepan back to low heat if all ingredients are not smooth).

-Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and use your hand to massage the mixture. You want all dry ingredients to be coated with the wet.

-Pour Mixture onto pan

-Bake for 16 mins. then take out and mix around

-Bake for another 7-9 mins until the granola is toasted to a golden color

-Let granola sit until completely cool and Enjoy