Honey and Bee Pollen Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cup oats
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup cup raw almonds, sliced
- 1/4 cup flaxseed
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup bee pollen
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350.
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In a large bowl combine your oats, sliced almonds, coconut flakes, flaxseed, coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt. Toss until well combined.
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In a small bowl or pot, heat your coconut oil until melted (you can do this in the microwave or in a pot on the stove.) Once hot, remove from heat and whisk in your honey and vanilla extract.
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Pour your liquid bowl over your bowl of dried goods. Toss until everything is well coated.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread your granola into an even layer.
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Bake for 15 minutes, toss, then bake for a remaining 10 minutes.
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After a total of 25 minutes, remove your granola from the oven, sprinkle it with bee pollen and toss one more time.
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Then take a new sheet of parchment paper and lay it over your granola, pressing it gently into the baking sheet. Let it cool completely.
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Once cooled, break the granola into pieces. Serve with milk, yogurt, or just eat by the handful!
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EAT UP.
Recipe Notes
* I highly suggest getting your honey and bee pollen from a local farmer's market. The more local the products, the more it will allow your body to get used to the allergens in the area and therefore (may) help improve your allergies!
**Some people can be allergic to bee pollen. So if you've never eaten it before test it out with a tiny amount before diving into this recipe. (The recipe tastes just as good without the bee pollen!)
Over the past month I’ve been recalibrating my life. I returned from Europe, having gone through a breakup abroad, and tried my best to get back to normal with work and my heart. But I was having a hard time. I was feeling extremely unconfident in my work life (it’s hard when “success” is measured by social media stats), and my heart was dragging itself along.
I spent a few days in bed, which didn’t help either situation, but it did give me time to watch the whole first season of Girlboss on Netflix. Now, I have some issues with the show and the main character, but it did remind me of the girlboss I have inside. The one who was there long before any man and will be with me to the end of my life. And that girl has shit she wants to do with her life. She’s got goals. She’s got a life to live that isn’t in her bed.
The next day I was excited to get up and conquer my workday. But instead I found myself barely awake at 7:30 am scrolling Instagram for an hour. I started to feel that icky feeling of self doubt creeping back in. I started to loose my drive to get up. And then it hit me – maybe my phone is the problem. Maybe I’m connecting too much of myself and my self worth to this dumb little thing. So I decided to do a little experiment.
The next day was a Friday and I didn’t need to wake up at any specific time (the joys of working freelance), besides my body usually wakes itself up around 7:40 or 8. So I set my phone across the room, turned it on silent, and read my book before dozing off. In the morning I woke up right around 8, I did a little stretching and I drank my coffee with my book on the front porch (the joys of the south.)
I didn’t touch my phone until 9 or 9:30 that morning and it changed everything. I had one of the best workouts I’ve had in a while. I had one of the most productive days I’ve had in ages. And I just generally started to feel like myself again. The malaise that had been hanging over me was lifting. I even danced around my kitchen for a bit.
So I decided to talk a little about my experience on my Instagram story that day. And it just so happened that my friend Lily of Kale & Caramel was going through something similar. Her phone broke a that day and so she went out and bought an alarm clock to wake her up for her early meeting the next day. And it was in that moment she realized that it had been a while since she woke up without her phone, and she really liked it. So we talked and figured we should join forces and make it a project that you can be involved in too!
We’re calling it #30screenlessnights and it’s basically just a commitment to free yourself of screens for a little bit of time at night and in the morning. But breaking an addiction can be really freaking hard, so we made some guidelines to help us all out. Here’s the “formula” we’re following…
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No phone for at least xx before bed and at least xx after waking. You decide what’s right for you.
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Create the right environment (books, oils, candles, nourishing objects).
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Notice your habits.
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Create new routines.
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Get into functional self-care.
My new morning/night routine looks like this : I give up my phone at around 9:30 or 10 by placing it across the room on silent with the brightness down. I now own this alarm clock from Target, so that’s what is waking me up. I wake up around 7:30 and remain iPhone free until 9am, giving myself nearly 12 hours of phone free time.
I know that this isn’t possible for everyone, but I think having a little bit of time for yourself at night and in the morning is SO important. Studies have shown that a screen free bedroom routine can help reduce anxiety and depression, as well as improve mindfullness and sleep quality. I listened to a podcast with Arianna Huffington where she likened this time to putting on your own oxygen mask first on the airplane. You can’t be of service to the world, unless you help yourself first.
There are so many facets of this project to explore – you can use an app on your phone to track the amount of time you’re using it to help limit mindless phone use. You can discover a new morning routine, and find new activities that stimulate you. I drank my coffee while working on a puzzle this morning, and that was really awesome. Maybe you stretch, maybe you meditate, maybe you make your bed and take a vitamin, maybe you eat some honey and bee pollen granola, maybe you journal, or read, or go on a run. Whatever it is, I just know that you deserve a few moments to yourself without any technology to start and finish your day.
So, we would LOVE to have you join in! It’s not too late. (It’s never too late.) Send me an email or a tweet or an instagram and let me know if you have any questions! I’ll be here the whole way to share my experience (I’ll do a big blog post about it in the end of 30 days) and I hope to provide as many tips/tricks as I can along the way. But I also want to hear about your experience! I want to hear about your new routine! I want to break this dumb technology addiction together. You in???
Start using the hashtag #30screenlessnights and tag @brewinghappiness and @kaleandcaramel so we can see your journey! xoxo
Kimberley says
I’m so into the screen hiatus. I need it! But when does it start? I’m into the power of doing things as a group. 😉 I’m also into this granola. XOXO
Haley says
Hey Kimberley! We started on Sunday the 28th, but feel free to join in whenever! It’s all very loose, and Lily and I are here to be your support team anytime! xoxo
Abby @ Heart of a Baker says
I have to say I’ve been joining you ladies in this and it’s freaking AMAZING. Since I haven’t been staring at a screen every night I’ve found that I sleep wayyy deeper and better and my focus is so much better in the morning. It’s also shown that I am for REAL addicted to my phone, but I’m trying to break that, real hard.
Haley says
Oh I’m so glad you’re joining us and that it’s been positive for you. I feel like I have so much more room for myself and I get so much more done these days. It’s great to hear that you’re experiencing some of the same things. Phone addiction is real. It’s crazy. xoxo
Christiann Koepke says
oh my goodness I’m SUCH a granola lover – will definitely have to try this out!!
Haley says
oh yayy! I hope you love it as much as I do, Christiann! xoxo
thebrickkitchen says
That is such a fantastic idea, and SO important too! it’s crazy how much time I spend on my phone now (or we all do, I suppose) – you look around on the train and everyone has their head down – hardly anyone just sits and thinks anymore. Will definitely be following along! And this granola is stunning – love how golden it is. Have been eyeing up bee pollen at the markets for ages so you’ve convinced me to go and buy some!
Haley says
I’m not sure I realized how important it was until I started the project. But I’m finding that I have so much more room for myself and my thoughts these days. It’s amazing! I’m glad you’ll be following along, and I’m even more excited that I convinced you to buy bee pollen! ENJOY. xoxo
betty says
I saw you and Lily begin this – I’m really excited to follow along (and took notes of your ideas post-wake-up). I don’t think I have the self control just yet, but you’re giving me courage to do so. When I read your paragraph about waking up, then scrolling through Instagram and feeling that icky self doubt… well love, that’s all too familiar to me. So. There’s a problem there. In school we learn about “sleep hygiene”, but it mostly focuses on going to bed, like not doing anything except sleep in the bedroom, don’t go on your phone 30 minutes before bed, having routine, etc… but interesting we have NEVER talked about waking up hygiene. HM.
This bee pollen granola sounds amazing. Fun? story: I brought the bee pollen from Crete to California, then left it at my parents house, then of course my parents were already in Asia, so after more than a month (OMG), I finally have the bee pollen!!! And now I can put it to use in this lovely granola.
Haley says
I TOTALLY feel you on this one. When I started, my nighttime routine was easy – I just grabbed a book. But the morning, that was harder. I’m still playing around with it, but I find that bringing my coffee outside has been my favorite way to start the day. So maybe try that? I hope it helps!
OMG I’m so glad you got your bee pollen back. I bet this granola would be AMAZING with that Grecian honey and bee pollen. I’m jealous! xoxo
Jessie Snyder says
I LOVE this Haley! I’ve been doing the same for a few weeks now and it has made such a huge difference. Waking up without any alarm has been my jam, and my body is up at 6:04am on the dot without that jarring ring and I’m loving it. Thank you two for encouraging me to keep it up! And for spreading this word + encouraging others to do the same, you two are so sweet and I just adore you. xo
Haley says
Doesn’t it just change everything in the best way??? I’m so happy you’re following along. I’m always here if you need some encouragement, sweet friend. xoxo
Michelle || Hummingbird High says
i love, love, LOVE the 30 screenless nights project. i do think we all rely on these technologies too much, to our detriment. i’ll be following along with you guys! xo
Haley says
Oh YAY! I’m so excited to hear that you’re on board. I wish I could get our whole generation to join in, I think it’d be good for the mental health of our culture. haha
Lily | Kale & Caramel says
YAY!!! So excited for #30screenlessnights and for this granola. I’m gonna make it when I’m on Maui next week and leave a bunch for my pops. Love you!
Haley says
Awww! I hope your dad likes it and I hope you enjoy your time back home. Hopefully you can get some (screenless) rest! xoxo