The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello - Happy Monday and how about a healthy Vanilla Trail Mix?

It’s difficult to find healthy alternatives to the snack foods that your kids crave, but here’s a nice one….This Vanilla Trail Mix is a great granola that is stuffed with antioxidants and grains. The seeds and nuts provide the needed protein, and best of all, it tastes great!

Packing this in you and your child’s lunchbox will keep both of you happier and healthier!

Here is the recipe for Vanilla Trail Mix:

Vanilla Trail Mix:

Ingredients:

2 Cups rolled oats

1 1/4 Cups barley flakes (can substitute other grain flakes)

1/2 Cup pecans, chopped

1/2 Cup walnuts, chopped

1/4 Cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 Cup sunflower seeds

3 Tablespoons sesame seeds

5 Tablespoons apple juice

5 Tablespoons honey, preferably produced locally

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 Tablespoons vanilla extract

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 Cup berries, dried – can be any type you like


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease two baking sheets.

In a large bowl mix the oats, barley flakes, pecans, walnuts and seeds.

In a smaller bowl mix the apple juice, honey, oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and stir all of this together.

Spread evenly into the two baking sheets.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden, stirring once in a while.

Remove from oven, let cool, mix in the dried berries and you are ready to go!

This Vanilla Trail Mix can be stored in an airtight container for up to a month.