A Sunday Kind of Breakfast
“I want a Sunday kind of love…One that lasts past Saturday night… When those Mondays and Tuesdays grow cold…and I need a love for all my life…”
Ella Fitzgerald wanted love; The kind of love that lasts through bad hair days and utility bills. I am lucky to have my Sunday kind of love, but now what I really need is a Sunday kind of breakfast. You know, for those mornings when I wake before the sun, and my Sunday love blinks sleepily at me from bed.
On my favorite mornings, eggs sizzle on the skillet. A preliminary glass of O.J. sits next to the stove. Two minutes up, French press knob down. Eggs finish cooking as the toast pops up. Newspaper open to the crossword puzzle while a sharpened pencil stands by.
Alas, we can’t always have such leisurely mornings, so let’s meet in the middle; somewhere between “grab an apple and run,” and “luxuriate at the kitchen table with a frittata and a mimosa”.
Enter granola. You’ll make it on a Sunday, wearing your favorite slippers. Your entire house will smell like an apple crisp; nutty and laced with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Come Monday, your alarm will sound and a hint of sweet and spice will still be in the air, to remind you that your breakfast awaits. There may not be crossword puzzles, or fluffy eggs over toast, but there will be granola…and that just may be enough to help you through to your next leisurely Sunday.
- ½ cup unsalted butter, vegan butter or coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ⅓ (packed) cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3¾ cups rolled oats
- 1 cup finely grated unsweetened coconut
- 3 cups (12 ounces) raw unsalted nuts (I use 3 oz each of unsalted pistachios, cashews, pecans, and sliced almonds)
- 2 cups (10 ounces) mixed dried fruit, such as golden raisins, cranberries, blueberries, cherries, apple, etc...
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- Preheat the oven to 275˚. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt. Simmer until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, shredded coconut and nuts. Add the brown sugar mixture and stir to thoroughly coat. Spread the granola on the baking sheets and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes (or until a deep golden color), stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, combine the dried fruit and orange juice in a medium bowl and let stand until fruit is plumped, about an hour. Drain the fruit in a strainer, pressing down the fruit to remove excess juice. Discard the liquid. Stir the fruit into the granola on the baking sheet. Bake for an additional five minutes.
- Let the granola cool completely. It will crisp up as it cools. After cooling, the granola can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. To re-crisp, bake in a 275˚ oven for 15 minutes.
I love granola. Never thought of adding the pistachio touch. I would love to try this. What can I substitute for the oats if I’m gluten free?
Gorgeous and yummy as usual, and I mean the writing and photography. I’m sure the recipe will match.
Sally
Hi Sally! Thanks! Good news–oats themselves are gluten-free, but they are often come into contact with wheat during processing. So…all you have to do is get gluten-free oats. Here’s a link to Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats. I know they sell Bob’s Red Mill products at Whole Foods, so I bet they have them gluten-free. Enjoy!
Certainly going to give the granola a try. One of my favorates with yogurt. This sounds really good!!! Photos beautiful!!
Yes, definitely try it…I have to warn you though–store bought granola will never be the same!
here here! Store bought granola or muesli pales in comparison to this.
By the way…it could also become a trail mix with some M&M’s…
I just enjoyed a bowl of this wonderful granola on a Saturday afternoon.
I have to say- it was a fantastic balance of oats, fruit, and nuts. Soaking the dried fruit in OJ was a clever trick, and the coconut is a nice touch. Not too sweet, either!
My husband and I have been craving a quick weekday morning breakfast that’s filled with healthy energy. I think I’m going to always keep a stash in the fridge!
Thanks, Jenny!
Okay so this was Friday evening granola for me! Fantastic… can’t see myself buying granola again. I was thinking about subbing some of the butter for coconut oil..not sure how it will go but it’s worth a shot! Thanks for sharing.