almond granola parfaits

you all are far too sweet.  thank you SO much for your kind words & happy wishes on my last post for us during this exciting time!  it also sounds as though at least of few of you won't mind reading a pregnancy update here and there which means i won't feel too self-indulgent when i throw one in every couple of weeks :)

it was a pretty busy weekend around here so i didn't have the chance to get any groceries, which meant that we were without smoothie fixings this morning.  but as luck would have it, i got a craving for granola yesterday and last night i baked up some almond & cranberry granola.  this morning we had some layered parfaits as a bit of a breakfast switch up.  i finally picked up some so delicious cultured coconut milk yogurt last week and i have to say it's amazing!  it has a real richness to it and doesn't have a funky aftertaste like some of the soy-based yogurts i've tried.

layered up with cherries it was a real treat.  in fact, i'd happily eat this for dessert if someone served it to me.

  

almond granola parfaits
serves 2
3/4 cup almond cranberry granola
1 cup coconut yogurt {i used vanilla}
1/2 cup cherries, pitted & quartered

layer each glass with a few heaping tablespoons of yogurt followed by a nice layer of granola, followed by more yogurt and then the cherries.  finally top with the remaining yogurt and granola and any remaining fruit.

so simple and so good.

i've included the recipe for my granola because it's really yummy.  it's a slight take-off from my usual go-to granola but i wanted to try something new.  it didn't get quite as crunchy as i would have liked but it clumps together nicely, and as i said it gets an A+ on flavour so i'm over the hit & miss crunch of it.  something tells me if i just baked it on a cookie sheet instead of a pyrex dish (what were you thinking miss pregnancy brain?) it'll crisp up just fine.

almond cranberry granola
3 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup flaxmeal
1 cup almonds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup agave
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries

chop up half of the almonds and then combine the oats, flax, nuts & seeds in a large bowl.  add the oil, milk, sweeteners, extract & salt in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar melts.  stir it well and then pour it over the dry ingredients.  mix it all up so that it's all coated and then then transfer to a 9x13 baking dish or baking sheet.  pop it in the oven at 325f for 30 minutes.  take it out of the oven, fold in the cranberries and then return it to continue baking.  lower the heat to 300f and let it cook for 40-60 minutes, checking on it every 20 minutes or so.  remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely (we're talking at least an hour, if not two).  then break it up into delicious chunks of goodness.