But that excuse isn’t enough to stop me from the excitement of celebrating our nephew’s birthday tomorrow!!
Once again, we would be missing celebrating Christmas and News Years in the States. But the idea of celebrating it with loved ones triumphs way above 🙂
Especially when you have a nephew who is just as excited about food as his aunt!
Since his birthday is tomorrow, our family tradition has been to cut the birthday cake at the stroke of midnight. Hate to see him grow up way too fast. He’s about to be 9 and somehow manages to melt our hearts, either one way or the other 🙂
I asked him what would he like to devour on his birthday. He promptly demanded for a picnic. Pure foodie in my opinion. He’s never tasted granola before and I hope we can get our hands dirty with this recipe before my trip home.
Or at least when we plan for the picnic. Portability is what this recipe is all about.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp all spice
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup almond oil
- 1/4 cup flax seeds
- 1/2 cup pepita seeds
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add all granola ingredients up to almond oil. Stir to combine. Evenly distribute granola onto 3 prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate sheet pans in half-time and give granola a toss every now and then for even baking.
- Remove baking sheets out of oven to allow granola to completely cool.
- Toss granola with flax seeds, pepita seeds and cacao nibs. Store in an air-tight container.
Happy Birthday, Shanu! May the Lord bless upon you with so much love, happiness, great health and wealth of wisdom. You continue to inspire us all 🙂
What’s your favorite portable/picnic menu or recipe?
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Happy birthday to Shanu! I am sure he would love this chocolate delight for the for his birthday lunch or after the picnic as dessert sprinkled on his favorite yogurt.
Have a fabulous time with your family and nephew.
Lail | With A Spin recently posted..Semolina and Coconut Cookie With Cardamom and Rose Water
happy birthday to Shanu 🙂 I have to go with sandwich for my ideal picnic food, ofcourse with a side of chips or potato salad 🙂
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health recently posted..Virtual Coffee Date
Yes please to chocolate for breakfast, such a treat!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..jam pinwheel cookies
Yum Yum Yum,…Your chocolate granola looks just stuperb yet divine! I love the presentation too with the thinly sliced apple like that!
Waw!!! 🙂
Sophie recently posted..Vegan cranberry clementine chocolate chip muffins!
Yep, happy birthday to Shanu! May you spend many and many more of these blessed days with your family.
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted..Pea and Pumpkin Penne
Happy birthday to him! How lovely to be there to celebrate with him and the rest of your family : )
Kathryn recently posted..mulled brown butter chocolate chip cookies
Happy Birthday to your nephew! I hope he enjoys his big day!
This granola looks amazing and the pictures are beyond gorgeous! Pinning!
Have a great weekend, Kiran! 🙂
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs recently posted..Estonian Kringel
awesome breakfast treat…love the hint of spices added…makes this so warm 🙂
Kumar’s Kitchen recently posted..Savory Brunch : Crepe Rolls With Minty Scrambled Ricotta & A Quick Relish 🙂
Heavenly! That is something I crave all the time, but rarely make… 😉
Cheers,
Rosa
This is just awesome, if a picnic is what it takes to get this, can we picnic everyday?
And, birthday wishes for your nephew. I know the feeling of them growing up so fast especially when you get to see them once in a year.
Charul @ Tadka Masala recently posted..Wedding Diaries with some Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge!
Happy birthday to the little one, Kiran… such a delicious recipe… and I do hope you recover quickly! Nothing worse than being unwell, I know xox
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted..Cold cherry soup
I think I will add the chocolate influence to my next batch of granola 🙂
Tandy | Lavender and Lime recently posted..My Husband Next Door, Catherine Alliott
A very happy birthday to your nephew! I hope he enjoys his picnic and gets to taste this amazing granola.
I always like sandwiches for picnics and salads. My extended family tends to favour biryani….go figure!
Coffee and Crumpets recently posted..Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Salad
Happy Birthday to Shanu! So sorry to hear you’ve been sick – hope you’ll be better soon. Great looking granola – loads of flavor in this. Good stuff – thanks.
John@Kitchen Riffs recently posted..Lemon-Almond Glazed Cookies
Chocolate granola?! Wah?! How brilliant. I just love it as a snack or as a cereal. BTW are you back?
What an unusual buy lovely breakfast idea. Sorry to hear that you are under the weather hope you recover soon.
Wizzy recently posted..This is why I am not a vegetarian.
I bet it turns the milk all chocolaty yummy. GREG
sippitysup recently posted..By: Joanne
Just made this Kiran… I gave away my cacao nibs when we moved so I left that one out. I also did not have flax seed nor almond oil. I stuck close to the basic ingredients but added 1/2 cup each of almonds, walnuts, and pecans. Used 1/4 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup olive oil. After the granola finished baking in 45 mins, I added 1/2 cup of raisins. I absolutely love the spices in this granola. I never in a million years would think to add all spice and cardamom to granola. This gave the granola a delicious, exotic taste.
Margarita recently posted..Blueberry-Ginger Scones
I love that this granola is chocolate flavoured, such a great idea and I am sure perfect for your nephew
My Kitchen Stories recently posted..The No Commitment Christmas slice!
That would be really nice for breakfast
Raymund recently posted..Filipino Style Chicken Curry
Happy birthday to Shanu, Kiran you are such a wonderful aunt for making him this granola for a picnic!
I am not a fan of granola – but I have never been introduced to chocolate granola before and now that you have – all I can say is “well hello so pleased to meet ya”! 🙂
My fav portable picnic menu would be something with nuts – well, to be specific – something with peanutbutter!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com recently posted..Banana Walnut Granola Muffins!
Happy Birthday to Shanu!
Sounds like a beautiful birthday, Enjoy.
Now, this granola, I need to make it. Pinning.
Poor you! I hope you feel better by now! Colds are so nasty and have the ability to screw up our days, don’t they! But it looks like this chocolate granola was a really comforting meal! Love the action photo, where the granola flakes are flying – VERY COOL! Pinned!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com recently posted..Ode to pecan shortbread cookies
Looks delicious and very healthy, by the way a little hot tea with lemon, honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper will have you feeling better in no time at all.
Karen recently posted..Low Carb Fruit Christmas Tree
You are such a great aunt Kiran. This looks phenomenal. I haven’t had chocolate granola before. You’re tempting me. 🙂
Honey What’s Cooking recently posted..Healthier Oatmeal Cranberry-Orange Pecan Cookies… just 79 calories!
Happy Belated Birthday to your beloved nephew Shanu! Hope he had an amazing one and I agree that the idea of celebrating it with loved ones triumphs way above 😉 The granola is pretty easy to pack – you can pack them in a mason jar, place spices & syrup in different bags or containers, and bring a jar of fresh nut milk! I’ve never done picnic….seriously, but I imagine sandwiches are a perfect picnic meal! Just pack your greens & veggies, spreads/condiments, vegan cheese/meat alternatives and bread separately! Or make cold soups like gazpachos in mason jars 😉
Happy Birthday to your loving nephew. It is such fun when kids love food…they make life so easy!
The granola looks lovely and chocolate granola happens to be my daughter’s favorite. The addition of pepita & flax seeds is a nice healthy touch.
easyfoodsmith recently posted..KHATTA MEETHA NIMBU KA ACHAR (No-Oil Sweet n Sour Lime Pickle)
That’s a wonderful breakfast treat..Happy Birthday to your nephew..
Maria John recently posted..Chicken Tikka | Murgh Tikka
I hope you’re feeling better. I love making homemade granola and this looks fantastic! Love your chocolate take on it. Totally a must make for me. 🙂
Tina @ Tina’s Chic Corner recently posted..Fudge Ecstasy Cookies
I like the way he thinks, a picnic birthday celebration sounds perfect!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Amaretti Thins | Crunchy Almond Cookies (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo Friendly)
This looks so yum!
Asmita recently posted..Merry Christmas
I made some chocolate granola for a good friend of mine who LOVES chocolate but deems granola “too healthy” for her tastes. Needless to say, it changed her mind 😉 Great recipe, Kiran! I hope you’re fully recovered in time for Christmas!
Irina @ wandercrush recently posted..Poppy Seed Roll
Hope you recovered from sinus, Kiran…and are enjoying your holidays with your family. Chocolate granola for breakfast..sounds like a perfect treat.
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Recipes | Charmagaz Curry and Pita Bread – Reliving Childhood Memories
Beautiful presentation and Happy (belated) Birthday to your nephew ;)!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence recently posted..Zinfandel Short Ribs with Goat Cheese Polenta and Mixed Herb Gremolata
It makes me think that you spend hours styling your food to make it look so beautiful and presentable. Such a lovely looking granola. I could finish off the entire batch in a single sitting!!!
Mallika recently posted..Home-made Christmas Mincemeat & Candied Orange Peels
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, my friend! I hope you will come back soon with your beautiful posts and recipes!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com recently posted..Chocolate dipped pecan shortbread cookies
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Your chocolate granola looks sinfully good. Drool, drool, drool…!!!
Mallika recently posted..Home-made Christmas Mincemeat & Candied Orange Peels
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been sick, Kiran. And yet you still managed to publish this wonderful granola! That’s dedication 🙂 Happy holidays to you and yours, my dear…
Viviane Bauquet Farre – Food and Style recently posted..Waffles with chestnut flour and blackberry-orange syrup
hey hows the hols? Hope u enjoy family time, and lots of makan, dear! Sorry to hear about the cold, hope u are feeling better..and plenty of rest pls..:-)
jehanne@thecookingdoctor recently posted..Comment on Chocolate Chip Shortbread by Jehanne
Hi Kiran, such gorgeous pictures and a tempting sounding recipe!
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Daniela recently posted..Celebrating With A Festive Apricot-Ginger Punch
So sorry to hear that you have been ill – hope you are feeling better now! This granola looks like a lovely breakfast or snack – I bet the almond oil gives it an extra rich flavor.
Donalyn@The Creekside Cook recently posted..Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt Cake
This granola looks so delicious! I love that is has chocolate on it, especially with the spices, too. A really lovely breakfast!
Amy (Savory Moments) recently posted..Spaghetti squash patties with cilantro-lemon yogurt
I hope you recovered quickly and have been enjoying the holidays with your family. Wishing you all the best in the coming year and safe travels back home.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Cheers To The New Year
Love this granola recipe and We hope you had a great picnic with your nephew. Happy New Year!
Vicky and Ruth / May I Have That Recipe? recently posted..Meatless Monday: Beluga Lentil & Pomegranate Baba Ghanoush