The other day, I loaded the kids up and made a beeline for the allergy medicine aisle at Target because well, allergies: thee worst seasonal allergies of all time, actually. I thought I'd made a smart choice in grabbing my generic pick ... steering clear of things that hadn't worked in the past and trying to remember what had. Later that night Simon saw the package sitting in the kitchen and gently broke it to me that I'd managed to just buy some overpriced Benadryl.
Wonderful.
Of course -- the beauty of granola recipes is that they can be tweaked, tinkered with, changed up completely and you'd be hard pressed to make something truly inedible.
When I make this again I might nix the goji berries (I can't taste them at all so ... what's the point?) and definitely NOT crush/blend/destroy the cocoa almonds.
ingredients:
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (found at Target)
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cocoa roast almonds (Target find)
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1/3 cup walnuts
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup raw and shelled hemp seeds (Target ftw)
3/4 cup dried blueberries
1/4 cup dried goji berries (again, Target) (these are very gross until baked - then they are tasteless)
3 tablespoons coconut oil (don't skip this - important for crisp factor)
3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup or whatever sweetener you fancy
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine all dry non-fruit ingredients in a big bowl. Mix, mix. Again, I threw my cocoa almonds in the blender but wish I hadn't so leave them whole or crush their little souls like I did.
Heat coconut oil and syrup/honey in saucepan over medium-low heat until oil is melted. Mix into dry mix until everything is nicely coated.
Spread granola evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle berries in and mix around. Crank heat up to 335 degrees.
I only needed to bake my batch for 12 minutes until everything looked nice and extra crispy (maybe too crispy - oops)
but our oven is a hottie and rather overzealous so ... you might need to wait 15-17 minutes? You'll know. Just keep a super close eye. Set two timers! I trust you'll be fine.
Remove. Eat or store in airtight container. I did both ... you don't have to choose.
Simon HATES coconut and I didn't tell him that the base was coconut flakes after he'd had a bowl with milk AND some sprinkled on yogurt. He then asked how I made it and I fessed up to the coconut flaking and he was surprised. Would he have loved it as much if he'd known the flakes were there beforehand? I don't know. But, don't be a naysayer if you hate coconut -- the taste is not coconutty. I promise.
And now there are one trillion AND ONE granola recipes out there on the line. I just had to add mine to the bunch.
Enjoy.
if the symptoms are mostly your eyes, try and allergy drop (alaway and zaditor 2x/day are the best!)
ReplyDeleteyou're the best, thank you!
DeleteI've been using Flonase morning and night. It took about 3 days to kick in but works well. Also, in the morning you can take Advil Cold and Sinus. Then Zyrtec at night. Sorry you're suffering.
DeleteA friend's daughter had really bad seasonally allergies and had a lot of success with local honey.
ReplyDeleteAstepro is an inhaled nasal anti-histamine and is the best ever. Not sedating, and works great. Super expensive since no generic (prescription required). My copay was $60, but worth it (and lasts longer than a month for me since I never remember to take it daily).
ReplyDeleteThis looks delish! Have you tried I Quit Sugar's Coconutty Granola? That's my fave. Does taste like coconut though, because that's kinda the point. Also, a friend's kid's crazy-bad allergies have been healed from essential oils (drinking 1-2 drops/day). I don't know the deets, sorry.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the local honey comment. When I barely start to feel my allergies creep up in the mornings, I had a spoonful of honey (must ... resist ... turning ... into ... MARYPOPPINS) and I could feel them simmer back down. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteFirst line Flonase nose spray. Then Allegra or Zyrtec. The last two come generic at Costco. Zyrtec works slightly better for my family BUT makes us all cranky so unless it's super bad, we try to avoid it even though it's the cheapest one. Also, for ear pressure plain old Sudafed is great (that way you don't have to buy the -D VERSION of the allergy meds). The Newlands. Celebrating 16 years at the allergist's office!
ReplyDeleteHi Grace- I know it's not the easiest thing schedule-wise with 5 babes, but official allergy shots will change your life and eventually lead to zero meds needed. Spoken from a reader who loves CP and an allergist's wife. :-)
ReplyDeletePlease check out plexus, a line of all-natural products focused on gut health, balanced blood sugar, and reducing inflammation. It has helped many people with allergies. Amber's story is amazing!
ReplyDelete"My own personal Plexus testimony was the very first reason I started sharing Plexus with others! Here it is:
When I was in my early teen years I was on 5 different allergy meds and 2 inhalers. My allergy doctor said I was his 2nd worst patient! I was able to get off those meds through a very strict diet later on in my teen but I still struggled and dreaded allergy season. After getting married I moved from the California coast to Tennessee where we have high pollen count warnings on the news!
A year later I had a newborn a year, and my allergies started to flare up worse then ever. I occasionally used Benadryl but chose to just hide in my house for the most part.
When I first tried Plexus it was Spring, my son was 16 months and all he wanted to do was play outside. At that point my allergies had gotten so bad I couldn't go outside anymore and I'd cry watching him through the window while he played.
A month later my symptoms were dramatically reduced, I had lost 5 pounds and felt so energetic! I've never looked back! I've been drinking Plexus Slim and taking our other healing products for almost 2 years now and I am proud to say I am no longer an allergy sufferer, lose weight easier then ever before, don't struggle with food addictions, no longer suffer from IBS issues and feel amazing!!!
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I've heard local honey is supposed to be helpful for allergies. But in my experience it is just waiting out the season and treating the symptoms as they come. My daughter's allergies and asthma flare up really bad during the Spring. It is a lot of benadryl, inhalers, and nasal sprays until May for us. A friend did give us some sort of nasal essential oils spray mix which seems to help, but honestly I don't know if it is that or all things combined that really makes the difference.
ReplyDeleteMy son and I are currently doing the immunotherapy allergy shots, with the hopes of one day being medication-free. I have had MUCH improvement with local honey. About a teaspoon a day, and it really helped! Side note- I HATE honey. Hate. It. So I got it in by using it in my homemade granola.:)
ReplyDeleteMy son and I are currently receiving immunotherapy allergy shots, with the hope of one day being medication free. I had MUCH improvement with local honey. (Not a quick fix, but over time it WORKS!) Side note- I HATE honey. Hate. It. So I use it to sweeten, wait for it........my homemade granola.
ReplyDeletei sent that exact same will smith picture to my friend the other day. my face looked EXACTLY like that. unfortunately mine was not from allergies, but from crying for a full 4 hours after i said goodbye to a friend. perhaps i should have tried some overpriced benadryl myself.
ReplyDeleteJim and I have both done allergy shots with great success. WE also take an essential oil blend called TriEase that has been really great. And the Costco generic brand of Zyrtec. I have no shame in doubling/tripling on anything that will ease the symptoms.
ReplyDeleteYes on the zaditor eye drops. My son is allergic to every seasonal/environmental allergy known to man. He does immunotherapy but still has breakthrough symptoms in the spring and fall. The eye drops plus daily Zyrtec is what saves him. I do want to try the local honey though. Just have to find some. Why don't any of my friends just raise bees?
ReplyDeleteDiffuse EOs - Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint I think...It's the only thing that's helped my poor daughter after like 4 years of suffering.
ReplyDeleteadding my dido to essential oils! Lemon, lavender, and peppermint layered straight up on your chest. just do it girl. it's worth it! you can email me and i can get them to ya, kimberwo@gmail.com. Or find me on OG @sliceofkimber. It doesn't hurt to try it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delicious and might be the pregnancy snack I've been looking for! Now, to conjure up the energy to make it....
ReplyDelete