September 13, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Pepita-Coconut Granola w/ Maple Roasted Plums | Dolly and Oatmeal

to be honest september stumps me in terms of cooking. it’s the height of produce season where you get the wonderful overlap of late summer and early fall mixed into one, and it’s almost too much for my brain to compute! do you have the same problem? i get into a seasonal rhythm when i’m cooking breakfast, so when a new season comes along everything kinda gets thrown out the window. i’ve been having cold summer smoothies on heavy rotation, along with almond yogurt with summer berries and almond butter. i’ve also been making amesy pancakes loaded with sliced peaches and/or blueberries.

so whenever i think of shifting to september, when we want a hint of autumnal spice, but we’re not quite ready to go full throttle, i turn to granola. it’s the perfect conduit for touches of cozy that can paired with just about anything. i tend to go for grain-free granola mixes these days, but many-to-most, store-bought varieties tout their “soft & chewy” texture. not sure about you, but i’m team “hard & crunchy” when it comes to grain-free granola. so most times i just make my own.

this granola recipe pairs 2 of my favorite things: seeds and coconut flakes. coconut flakes are the vehicle here for ultimate flavor. when it’s mixed up and baked with a bit of sweetener, spices, and salt, it absorbs all that flavor delivering the most tasty granola. the roasted plums here were an afterthought, but so worth the little bit of time to make them. you just throw them together while the granola is cooling - easy-peasy. they add a perfect little touch of summer’s end.

happy september, sweet friends!

pepita-coconut granola w/ maple roasted plums | gf/v/grain-free

PRINT THE RECIPE!

| makes roughly 3 cups granola |

2 cups coconut flakes
1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1 cup chopped almonds
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
a couple pinches fine sea salt
1/4 cup coconut nectar, maple syrup, or raw honey
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

plums

4 firm, but ripe plums, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon melted coconut oil
pinch of salt
unsweetened plant-based yogurt or milk, for serving

method

preheat oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment.
in a large bowl, mix together the coconut flakes, pepitas, almonds, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
in a small bowl, whisk together the coconut nectar, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. pour over dry ingredients. use a rubber spatula to mix the granola, making sure everything is mixed thoroughly and evenly.
spread the granola evenly into the baking sheet, pushing it out into a flat layer. bake for 25-30 minutes, mixing it halfway through, until it’s lightly browned, and fragrant. (the color of the granola will also depend on what liquid sweetener you use. mine resulted in a darker color because i used coconut nectar.)
let the granola cool, and raise the oven temperature to 400°F to roast the plums.
line a baking sheet with parchment paper and toss the plums together with coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. roast the plums cut side up for 25-30 minutes, until tender and juicy, and lightly browned around the edges. let cool for about 10 minutes.
scoop your desired amount of yogurt into a bowl. top with a good bit of granola, and 1 or 2 plum halves; drizzle a bit of the plum juices around the bowl, and enjoy!
store the granola in a sealed jar at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. store leftover plums and juices in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. reheat the plums or let them come to room temp before serving.

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Raspberry Crumble Overnight Chia Oats (& A Giveaway!) / June 27, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Raspberry Crumble Overnight Chia Oats | Dolly and Oatmeal

i'm not super into meal prep, and truth is i never really have been. prepping meals for the week always seemed like the thing people were doing to make their lives easier. i see countless instagram accounts of people dedicating hours of their sunday to cook meals, conponents, and sides for the week. and from my vantage point, that always seemed doable. until i tried to do it. but dedicating a few hours on a sunday when all i want to do is hang out with my family is a tough ask. but truth is, for me, meal prepping tends to make me feel overwhelmed.

the solution i've found for the moment is to prepare for at least 3 days with a dressing, a sauce, a make-ahead meal or two, and that's about it. our schedule fluctuates so often during the week, between last minute meetings, appointments, work running late, etc., that i've found that an entire week worth of meals tends to get wasted, unfortunately.

one of those meals i've been prepping to make mornings easier are these overnight oats. most times it's just a basic version with rolled oats, chia seeds, almond milk, some smooshed fruit, and a good glug of nut butter on top. sometimes i'll snack on it after a big workout, or give it to amesy for his morning or afternoon snack. it's a reliable little dish to have on hand throughout the week that doesn't require more than what's in your pantry. what i find helpful is to have a basic checklist, so that my pantry is always stocked with essential items i might need:

pantry-stable almond breeze almondmilk
rolled oats (certified gluten-free)
chia seeds/whole or ground flaxseed
nuts: almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.
seeds: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
nut/seed butter: almond butter, cashew butter, tahini, sunflower butter, etc.
maple syrup or sweetener of choice

i usually buy most of these items in the bulk section of my grocer and store them in jars i've bought or collected over time. i keep them front and center of the pantry so i know when to re-up the supply, it works for me, and keeps things running a bit more smoothly. one thing that has definitely kept it all running though is always having almond milk on hand. shelf-stable almond breeze almond milk is always there to come to my much needed relief when i'm in the middle of a recipe and run out of refrigerated almond milk if there is one thing that i make sure my pantry is stocked with, it's that, and it lasts up to one year in there. when you've got a hangry toddler demanding breakfast, it literally saves the day, and prevents things from becoming more chaotic than they need to be.

xo, friends!

GIVEAWAY: 1 lucky winner will receive a year's supply of almond breeze almond milk! (open to US residents only, sorry international friends.)

TO ENTER: leave a comment below sharing a time when your pantry-friendly almond milk came to your relief! one winner will chosen at random, giveaway closes monday, july 2nd, at 5pm PST. *please leave a working email address. good luck!!

this post was created in partnership with blue diamond almond breeze. all opinions and thoughts, as always, are my own. thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep dolly and oatmeal running!

raspberry crumble overnight chia oats | gf & v

there are 2 options for making these overnight oats:

with a baked crumble. it adds an additional step, that only requires preheating the oven, and baking it for 5-7 minutes. if you have the time, i think it's definitely worth the extra few minutes.
with a crumble. this only requires a quick mixing of the ingredients, and then for them to sit overnight. both are super tasty and still give you that crumble vibe.

print the recipe!

| makes 2 generous servings |

crumble

1/4 cup almond meal
2 tablespoons gluten free rolled oats
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoon melted coconut oil
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup

raspberries

1 cup fresh raspberries
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1-2 teaspoons maple syrup

oats

1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds
fat pinch fine sea salt
1 1/2 cups almond breeze almondmilk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon almond butter

method

crumble. baked: preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. in a small bowl, mix together the almond meal, oats, almonds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and salt. add the coconut oil and maple syrup, use a fork to toss everything together. place in the fridge for 10 minutes.
loosen the crumble with your fingers and turn out, and arrange it in an even layer on the baking sheet. bake for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown. remove from the oven and let cool.
crumble: raw: mix together the almond meal, oats, almonds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and salt. add the coconut oil and maple syrup, use a fork to toss everything together. cover the bowl, and store the crumble in the fridge overnight.
raspberries. to a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the raspberries, water, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. stir everything together and cook for 3-5 minutes, until most of the raspberries are broken down, and the liquid has reduced. remove from heat and let cool. store in an airtight container or jar and store in the fridge once fully cooled.
oats. mix together the oats, chia seeds, and a fat pinch of salt. in a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, and almond butter. stir the liquid ingredients into the dry. taste and add more salt and/or maple syrup if desired. place in an airtight jar or container, and store in the fridge overnight.
to assemble: scoop desired amount of overnight oats into a bowl. (drizzle more almond milk if you want a thinner consistency.) add a good scoop of raspberries over top. then add the baked or raw crumble over the raspberries (if using the raw crumble, use your hands to loosen the crumble into bits first). add more almond butter if desired.

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Chimichurri Avocado Toast / June 14, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Chimichurri Avocado Toast | Dolly and Oatmeal

i'm popping in here real quick with this avocado toast "recipe". it's not so much a recipe than it is a couple of favorite ingredients mixed together to make one epic piece of toast! if you're not familiar with chimichurri sauce, it's a herb-based, green sauce that's traditionally used for grilled meats and fish. but it's also great in vegetarian dishes as well: used as a salad dressing, tossed into lentils or beans, or mixed into a pasta salad. but, i love it on avocado toast! and i think you will too!

it provides it a great garlicky flavor, and a bit of an acidic bite from the vinegar. there's also a faint spice from crushed red pepper flakes. and all together with creamy, smashed avocado just takes your traditional avocado toast up a significant notch. sometimes i eat the toasts as is, with an egg on top, or served on the side. it's a great "breakfast for dinner" recipe on a night where you need to take a break. all in all, a super easy, but revitalized take on a classic 😉i hope you all enjoy it as much i do!

xo!!

chimichurri avocado toast | v & gf

print the recipe!

| makes roughly 1/2 cup chimichurri |

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tablespoon finely minced red onion
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

toast

3-4 slices gluten free bread, toasted (or preferred bread slices)
1 ripe avocado
fine sea salt
nasturtium or herb flowers for garnish (very optional)

method

in a mixing bowl, mix together the parsley, oregano, garlic, red onion, vinegar, and olive oil. stir in the salt and crushed red pepper flakes. taste and adjust the salt and vinegar if desired. store the chimichurri in a lidded jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. remove it from the fridge 30 minutes prior to serving.
assemble the toast. cut the avocado and mash it into the toast; season with salt, then top with the chimichurri sauce and nasturtium or herb flowers (if using) and eat right away.