Are you looking for good breakfasts for breast feeding? Then you’re in the right place. But this breast feeding friendly granola is not strictly just for nursing mothers. And this certainly isn’t a granola that after eating will give you an overwhelming urge to breast feed babies and toddlers. (Well, I assume it won’t, I can’t promise).
But what it is, is a delicious granola with loads of oats which are very good for milk production, prunes which are excellent for when one is constipated (and for those of you who have had a baby, you will know going to the loo for the first time after birth can be both a terrifying and daunting experience) and dark chocolate which is full of stuff that makes you happy including bags of iron, which can be in short supply after pregnancy and birth.
In short this is post natal super fuel. And you can shovel it into your tired face with or without milk, with a babe in arms or not.
This is the stuff I make for my post natal pals, the ones who are breast feeding, the ones who are tired, the ones who are discovering themselves as mothers; particularly the ones who have just birthed their first baby and are deep in the fug of wonder and secret horror at what they have let themselves in for. I have a message for these mums if they are reading. It will be okay. Cut yourself some slack. Remember the days are long but the years are short. And get someone to make this breast feeding granola for you.
Lots of great recipes like this in my books, Recipes from a Normal Mum, (available on Amazon, at The Works, Waterstones, WHSmith, The Book Depository and many smaller outlets) and The Power of Frozen (available through Amazon).
This time last year: Microwave chocolate pudding, Gluten free chocolate coconut cake, Beetroot rolls, Chocolate heart cupcakes, Bramley apple and cinnamon crepe cake, Ikea style meatballs and pancakes.
Two years ago: Rye, spelt & poppy seed rolls, Never fail pancakes, Fluffy sweet potato pancakes, Mars Bar brownies and I wrote a letter to my 15 year old self with all the things I’d wish I’d known over 20 years ago.
Three years ago: Chocolate and banana flower shaped cupcakes, Subtle coconut rolls, Easy chocolate cupcakes and Chocolate orange tea buns and Almond and fig granola.
Four years ago: Love cupcakes and White chocolate, lemon and macadamia cake and Roasted celeriac, carrot and parsnip soup and My lightest Yorkshire puddings.
Five years ago: Bake me not chocolate cake and Jelly and ice-cream meringue roulade and Good flapjack and Banana, butterscotch and fig traybake.
Six years ago: Treasure hunt ice-cream and Rhubarb and ginger chutney and Carrot cake.
Yield: 3 litres
- 85g brown sugar
- 100g honey
- 65g butter
- 15g cocoa
- 200g oats
- 150g skinless hazelnuts, bashed
- 140g prunes, roughly chopped
- 100g dark chocolate
- 100g white chocolate
Preheat the oven to 160C/gas mark 3 and spread 2 baking sheets with non stick baking paper. Melt the brown sugar, honey, butter and cocoa in a large saucepan until just molten. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the oats and hazelnuts, then spread carefully over the baking sheets in one thin layer. Bake for 15 minutes then turn the granola mixture over using a slice/spoon and bake again for another 20 minutes, checking for any burning periodically. You are looking for a golden brown colour to develop. Take the trays from the oven and press the granola down with a potato masher then return to the oven for 5 – 10 minutes until a lovely brown slab of granola has developed. Remove and leave to cool for 5 minutes. In the meantime chop the prunes (use scissors) into thirds and then chocolate into chunks about 1/2 cm big, then sprinkle evenly over the cooling granola. Don’t start mixing it up – just leave it to melt over the oaty mixture. It takes ages to completely cool and set, be warned – about 3 hours all in. When cold break the granola up into bite size pieces and mix with the raisins. Pour into jars and enjoy with yoghurt/milk/fresh fruit or whatever you fancy.
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Holly Bell 