Healthy Pumpkin Granola

I don't know about you but I absolutely LOVE everything pumpkin so when I came across this recipe I could hardly wait to try it out. Granola tends to be high in fat, sugar and calories. This recipe could be far from your typical granola. It is slightly sweet and uses wholesome ingredients such as quinoa, flax seed, and honey. Now some of you might wonder what exactly is Quinoa. It's not something you find in your everyday granola. It is packed with proteins and offers all 8 essential amino acids making it a complete protein. With all that said are you ready to make the best granola you'll ever have?!

All you need is:

• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed well 

• 1 1/2 cups rolled old fashioned oats

• 1/4 ground flaxseeds

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (or other seeds such as sunflower seeds)

• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries 

• 1/3 cup honey

• 1/4 canned pumpkin

• 1 tsp oil (canola or vegetable)

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• pinch of sea salt

• 1tsp vanilla extract

Now I know what you're thinking, that these ingredients are super expensive and you don't want all the leftovers. Most of these ingredients should be offered in bulk at your local grocery store. I was able to buy all the ingredients not including the spices for under $10. 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325F 

1. Spread oats and quinoa out on a parchment line baking pan. Toast in over for 10 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes have passed.

2. Remove the oats from the oven, pour the toasted oats into a medium bowl and add the ground flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans and dried cranberries.

3. Reduce oven to 300F

4. In a second medium bowl, combine honey, pumpkin puree, oil, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Pour over oats and stir together with a spatula. Spreadback onto a baking sheet and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until golden

Granola is a great snack to eat alone but it is also is delicious paired with creamy non-fat greek yogurt. It can also be eaten with a splash of almond milk and fresh fruit. I hope you enjoy!

Nutritional Information per 1/3 cup:

Total calories 130; Fat 4.5g; Carbohydrates 22g; Fiber 3g; Protein 3g; Sugar 14.5g; Sodium 10mg

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/09/easy-pumpkin-spiced-granola.html