Brekkie

I loathe milk!

I went to school in New Zealand, starting in 1958. Part of the torture of those years was the daily, compulsory (1/2 pint a day), dose of warm, sun-affected, day old milk.

It was foul.

Since that time I have avoided the stuff. Coffee I take black with honey, I break my fast with toast and coffee, etc.

That has meant I don't use cereals but, due to a life-change, that has to be reassessed. In my re-assessment I have discovered I can stomach whipped cream (without sugar or vanilla polluting it).

A bit of experimenting and I've come up with a Muesli-type mix that works for me.

The recipe: 

2 cups rolled oats

2 cups prepared Quinoa

1 cup chopped peanuts

1/2 cup (approx - more = sweeter) Kanuka honey*

1/2 cup (good) Olive oil

1 tbsp vanilla

1 tbsp cinnamon.

Mix ingredients in a large bowl, spread on baking paper on a dished oven tray (one with sides) about 2-3cm thick.

Bake in heated oven at 180C for 9 minutes, stir thoroughly and bake until mix is dry and crisp (ensuring top does not burn), usually about 10 minutes.

Remove from oven, add 1 cup of any dried fruit** you have or want and stir in.

Turn off oven and use residual heat from oven to finish off.

When cool refrigerate mix in container with lid.

I've found that separating the mix in serving-sized bags the next day and freezing keeps the mixture for weeks.

Serve with whipped cream.

* Kanuka honey is not overly sweet and has good anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. I prefer it but any honey will do or try Maple syrup.

** I like cranberries, goji berries and often add blueberries when serving.