How Jessie Got Her Groove Back and GREENola
Thanks to all of you for sharing your own food mix-up stories in my last post; it’s good to know that I’m not the only spazz in the kitchen 🙂
I wasn’t going to post again until Tuesday as per my current schedule, but I was so excited about what just came out of the oven that I had to share! But first, some breakfast! (Hey, I gotta stick to at least part of my schedule.)
I’ve been finding that oatmeal sits too heavily in my stomach, so that I feel almost ill as I’m driving to school in the morning. Today, I decided to lighten things up with a Breakfast Smoothie:
In the smoothie was a double handful of spinach, a banana, frozen blueberries, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Crumbled on top was a Vegan Energy Bar, a Mama Pea classic. I’ve made these a number of times since last fall and carry them around with me for a quick snack. I always make a big batch so that I can freeze them in our tiny tiny freezer (much to Peter’s chagrin).
(As you can tell by the chocolate chips seductively peeking out, this was not a vegan batch.)
Wait, what else did I have with breakfast??
Yes, this is how Jessie got her groove back. After 10 days without THIS hot and steamy island friend, I’ve decided to let coffee back into my morning. After proclaiming that I was giving up coffee due to sleep issues, I find that (a) cutting out coffee didn’t help with sleep, but unplugging and relaxation before bed did, and (b) sadly, I NEED coffee to survive the commute from heck. I’ll see how things go this week … oh, and next week, too. I have finals next week.
I took a breather from studies and Powerpoint this evening to whip up something I’ve been wanting to make for weeks. Ever since I read about Aletheia’s Greenola, I’ve been squeezing my avocados to see if they’re appropriately overripe. (Ok, I KNOW that one sounded dirty.) So far, I had been failing spectacularly at capturing an avocado at the right moment … and today was no exception.
My first avocado:
EEK!! Avocados aren’t supposed to be fuzzy on the inside, right?? This is as close as I’m going to let you get to that piece of nastiness. In case you can’t tell, the avocado disaster is that lump on the cutting board next to the knife.
My second avocado was perfectly ripe, therefore too unripe to make Greenola. I decided to forge ahead anyway, because, gosh darn it, I was ready!
Avocado and applesauce, ready for mushin’:
I also added maple syrup to the mixture because I like a little sweet in my granola.
Maddie waiting for handouts (that unfortunate hole in my slipper is from a CERTAIN doggie’s razor-sharp teeth. Yeah, I’m looking at you, munchkin):
In the oven for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally:
(Ignore that avocado chunk. That’s a big OOPS.) I used rolled oats for the grains because that’s all we had, but this recipe would be wonderful with a mixture of grains. In fact, my dietetics program is doing a “funky grains” food lab on Thursday, so maybe I’ll get some inspiration from that.
Aletheia, your Greenola is fabulous! I love how it’s sweet and crunchy without all the oil – just healthy fats and fruit, all the way! I can’t wait to add some “flair” to it for my Breakfast Smoothie tomorrow! 😀
I’m off to put my head in the books – see you later, chicas and chicamen!
Q: Do you like avocados? (I already know that you don’t, Sophia! 😉 ) What do you like making with avocados?
I love avacados! I have bad luck with getting them ripe too, that pic from 800 miles away is too funny!
I usually eat them plain sliced up with some pepper on them. Other than that I do the usual guacamole. My cousin adds them in her smoothies, something I’ve yet to try!
Great job with the Greenola…seriously! Love avocados..
That Greenola is so great! I love avocados…they make any sandwich a little bit better. 🙂
I love avocados! I really want to try one in a smoothie, I think that would be great!! What a creative greenola recipe!! I never would’ve thought it!
welcome back to Jessie’s life mr.coffee hehe. i tried to give it up too.. but found the longer i went the worse i felt-go figure!
oh that choc. granola bar looks amazing held up to the camera. MUNCH* MUNCH*
i like the smoothie in a bowl idea. hopefully that helps with ur tummy issues. not fun!
XOXO
OH. MY. GOSH. Jessie!!!!
YOU. ARE. AMAZING.
I thought about using other words, too. But since I’m also bad at deviating from one-word sentences when I’m overcome with emotion, I decided to draw you a picture instead: http://bit.ly/a5eIhL
I think that it almost properly demonstrates how I feel right now.
Love, explosion & rainbows,
aletheia 🙂
Haha! Aletheia, you are amazing 🙂
The only time I tried an avocado was in a smoothie. I think maybe it was a bit too unripe as it wasn’ that great.
I love love love avocados. My favorite thing is guacamole but I only like it when other people make it. I can eat avocado straight up at home with no problem!
What a cool idea! Greenola…love the word. 🙂
I love avocados! my favourite way to eat is guacamole 😛 I’ve also tried it with smoked salmon and will try it with bacon too (I have a great recipe from Jessica @ Hot Sweet It Ís) 🙂 I just hate it that you can almost never buy ripe avocados and then you have to wait until they’re ripe. I really don’t have the patience for that! 😀
YUM! I love bars with chocolate chips! well, anything with chocolate chips is good 😉
What a yummy breakfast, and greenola is such a fantastic idea! I’ve got an avocado in my fridge just begging to be made into greenola! 🙂
Sorry you fell off the coffee wagon…but I honestly don’t see any shame in it! I know exactly what you mean about needing it to make mornings tolerable (and I don’t even have a long commute as an “excuse”!)
Also, I LOVE avocados…and granola, but I’ve never thought of making them together!! Usually I have them nice and simple — just sliced and put on a sandwich. There’s really no avocado taste to this “greenola”??
Nope! There’s no avocado taste at all! I think the key is that you need to bake it for long enough so the avocado bakes, too. It takes a little longer than regular granola, but it’s so worth it 🙂
I do like avocados in guac – but have never actually made anything with them myself!
hmmm, no avocados should not be fuzzy !! Yuck. I’m glad you still got to taste one, and you liked it 🙂 I love them. I didn’t used to, that’s for sure, but now I really enjoy them with eggs, on sandwiches, or with rice and beans. They are so versatile!
As for the coffee issue, I’m glad you’ve let it back in your life. As many times as I try to let it go, there is not way I could give it up for good. I figure as long as I am only consuming 300 mg of caffeine or less, there is no issue. Coffee is packed with phytonutrients anyway! The only time it prevents me from sleeping is if I drink it passed 2pm. I learned this the very hard way, several times.
I know an old Mexican woman who would microwave her avocadoes briefly if they weren’t ripe enough to make guacamole. I’ve never tried that trick, but maybe you could if you were in a pinch.
What temperature do you bake it on? Last time I made granola (like EVERY time I make granola) it came out charred.
I baked the granola at 350 degrees F, but you could try a lower temperature maybe? I tried to stir it often to keep it from charring and it seems to work really well. I’ve never heard of that microwave trick, but I’ll have to keep it in mind!
That Greenola sounds so unique and wonderful! I will have to make it! 🙂 Awesome that it doesn’t use any additional fat, too!
I absolutely LOVE avocados…had some on my salad last night. I love guacamole most, but I could easily eat 2-3 avocados worth and oops! That’s a lot 🙂 But I do think that’s my favorite way to eat avocado. I do love it in smoothies, too!
Glad you got your groove back! I would get mine too if I removed and reintroduced coffee into my life. It’s my only “drug” I need daily. 😉 But I only have coffee and caffeine in the mornings for the same reasons you gave it up! Seems to work for me!
I made granola last night too but mine wasn’t green! I think adding apple sauce is a cool idea.. I have some in my fridge!
And I love avocados.. probably my favorite produce. I love it mashed on a sandwich in place of mayo, but I looooooove love love guac!
I also find that eliminating caffeine doesn’t do much in terms of helping me sleep…although nothing really seems to help much! Except an rx, but I really don’t want to use that anymore. I’m getting a little desperate though. Anyway, I added black and green teas back to my daily routine a long time ago (still no coffee though…for other reasons) and there is really no change. I’m going to try really hard not to use the computer and wind down before “bed time”, as per your suggestion. Maybe it will help some.
I don’t really eat avocados! I bought one for probably the first time ever to make my greenola (yours looks great, by the way!) I also eat them if they are on top of salads that I order at a restaurant or something… I don’t dislike them, I just never buy them.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I hope we can both get some good rest soon 🙂
Oh I just looove avocado and the looks of the greenola! That looks absolutely delicious! When I made guacamole a few weeks ago, I just couldn’t stop trying to come up with ways to use avocado in everything. I want to freeze them and use them in smoothies too!
I’m glad you are happy bringing coffee back. I just love the taste in the morning- it’s so rich and satisfying- tea doesn’t quite compare. Glad that the winding down before bed has helped a little. You deserve some good rest because of all the positive and lovely energy you emit all dang day!! You’re just so wonderful, Jessie!
I love avocado anything. But I’d have to say my fave is avocado smoothies. I’m not very creative so that’s all I can really do with them. And I’ve never had a breakfast smoothie either. Man, I’m so Chinese lol.
Does that mug say Lex?! Who’s so lucky to have such a great name? Kekeke. Have a great week Jessie 😀
Haha! I didn’t even notice that the mug says “Lex”! The full word is “Lexecon” but I can scribble out the “econ” and send it to your little Lex!
I’m kind of ambivalent on avocados. I love them on salads, but not so much on sandwiches. This granola looks pretty fabulous though!
I LOVE them! Boring but I love the most as guac. I can eat wayyyy too much if I’m not careful! 🙂
oh your breakfast looks delicious what a great change from oats! i am gonna check out this energy bar-it looks fabulous!
Glad you got to add some coffee back into your life. I didn’t drink coffee until we moved to Europe and it just seems right here to have the coffee. I do like avocado but within in reason. The calories add up fast, just like any other fat, so I like it best as a topping on quesadillas or tacos.
I love avocados!! I love making guacamole and salad dressings with them, avocado just makes everything taste sooo much better! Now, I can’t wait to try and make those greenola bars.
Good Luck with your tests 🙂
Wow, that greenola looks fabulous, can’t wait to try it! I love avocados – they are the perfect salad and taco addition!
I am so weird, I hate avocados by themselves, but love guacamole haha
I LOVE avocados..you are a rockstar! I would have never thought to use them in granola!
I’ve never heard of Greenola!! So interesting and intruiging!
Avocado in granola?? I never would have thought! I make homemade granola all the time…just replace the canola oil with some avocado? That simple?
ooo girl that granola bar looks SO GOOD!!
i LOVE Avocados!! they are so good mixed w. salsa and greek yog!
I love avocados too – in a salad with wasabi vinaigrette, whizzed up in a blender with vanilla ice cream and brown sugar, over steak, out of it’s “shell” with brown sugar sprinkled over, in guacamole of course….I could go on and on and on….
And, I could never give up coffee either, not for long anyway. Tried too many times 😛 But I think a nice BIG cup in the morning and ONLY in the morning, does you much more good than harm? Not sure what, but I know there’s lotsa stuff in it that’s actually good for your brain, tum and nervous system…..I think 😉 Great post Jessie – you’re such fun to read!
Thanks, Denise! You’re so nice 🙂
That greenola looks so cool!! You always put up such interesting and unique (and wholesome!) recipes, I love it! And avocadoes are super fantastic, I really ought to eat them more often. Have a splendid day! Don’t work too hard 🙂
What an amazing recipe!
I adore avocado, specially in sushi, and in paninis!
I also like adding avocado to my go-to meals, a bowl with some kind of grain, veggies, sauce and topped with avocado
I’m glad to see that your GROOVE has returned! I couldn’t survive without my morning cup of coffee. Sure, I’m addicted but I also just love the taste. it’s like chicken soup for my soul.
That avocado granola is so intriguing! I love avocadoes…guacamole, turkey sandwiches, burgers…they can be used for so many delicious things!
I LOOOOVE avocados! They’re so delicious! Also – I totally have to try those Vegan Energy bars. They look amazing and I keep seeing them crop up around the blog world!
I’m one of those that can take or leave avocados…I make a lovely guac with them but other than that rarely use them…I don’t mind them in salad and stuff they just aren’t an integral ingredient to me because they are so flavour-less.
Smoothie in a bowl is a fab idea!
I LOVE avocados! I am pretty unoriginal and like to make guacamole! It is one of my favorite foods!
I wouldn’t be able to do without coffee for too long either. Glad you are having an easier time getting to sleep!
I’ve seen Aletheia’s greenola on her blog and it looks awesome! I’m so impatient waiting for avocados to ripen 🙂
The energy bar looks great too. *Oh, and chocolate chips ARE vegan!* If they’re semi-sweet…not milk chocolate, obviously 😉
Oh my gosh, that vegan energy bar looks absolutely AMAZING, what a yummy way to start your day! And the greenola looks just as good, the only issue is that I have a granola addiction and can’t stop once I start eating it! I love me some avocadoes for sure…pass the guac, please!!
LOVE the different flags in your header, by the way…so cute! Hope you have a great Friday love!!