Spiced Peach and Macademia Nut Crisp (Gluten Free option)

You can have it with a scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream...

or without.

This was a fun treat. I thought I wasn't a big fan of fruit crisps, but I really am enjoying them lately. It reminds me of my Moms cooking. :) I think if the fruit is cut up in small pieces I like it much better. The other thing that really adds to my enjoyment of it is the added spices. It makes me hungry just looking at it. I wish I still had some. I think it would make a wonderful breakfast too. You could make it the night before, and have it already to go the next morning. It is loaded with good things. It is a great way to use the fresh fruits that are available right now.

Ingredients: servings 8
spice mix:
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp fresh nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom

Fruit:
3 C peaches cut in small pieces *(you could use fruit of your choice)
2 T juice of one lemon
1 tsp of spices
Crumb topping:
2/3 C spelt flour or whole grain flour  or gluten free flour 
1/4 tsp sea salt with iodine
remaining spice mixture
2/3 C old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 C macadamia nuts chopped up fine in the blender * or another kind of nut
2/3 C honey
1/3 C coconut oil or butter

Optional: Top with vanilla bean ice cream. ( I replaced the milk with almond milk. Yum! )

Directions: Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 min.

1. Mix all the spices in a bowl together.

2. In a bowl pour the fruit, lemon juice and 1 tsp of spices in a bowl. Set aside so the spices can seep into the fruit.

3. In another bowl mix the flour, salt, spices, oatmeal and nuts. Whisk together until they are all combined. Pour the honey and oil on top. Cut in with a pastry blender until it is all combined.

4. Grease a square pan. Heat up the oven.

5. Pour the fruit in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the fruit. Spreading evenly all over.

6. Bake in oven till nice and golden . It will thicken as it cools.

7. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.

Macadamia Nut Granola

Sorry I have been out of town. :) So that is why there has been limited posts. I appreciate Britney doing one. :) I brought back some Macadamia Nuts, and was interested to learn more about them.

Macadamia Nuts: (Some Interesting Information)

1. Helps lower cholesterol and decreases risk of stoke and heart disease.

2. 78 to 86 % of the fat is monounsaturated (Heart healthy good for you fat.

3. Only food source that contains palmitoleric acid. It is a type of monounsaturated fatty acid that can speed up your metabolism that could reduce your bodies ability to store fat.

4. The oil is healthier than olive oil. (I have not tried the oil yet.) It can be heated to higher temperatures than olive oil, without losing its flavor and breaking down.

5. They have falvanoids in them. Flavanoids turn into antioxidants in our body. Antioxidants can help destroy particles in the body that could cause diseases and other conditions. As a result to that it can lower your blood pressure.

6. They have Vitamin A, Iron, protein, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Small amounts of selenium (an antioxidant) calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.

7. Plain roasted are the healthiest and unsalted. (keeps down the sodium)

8. They still are high in calories and fat, ( one of the highest in fat of the nuts) so don't go too crazy. Just replace them for other fats you eat, and enjoy the health benefits.

9. They are harvested after they fall to the ground.

10. Serving size 11-12 nuts

It was fun to have them to put them into this granola. It gave it a great flavor. I hope that you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

3 C old fashioned oatmeal

1 C Macadamia nuts chopped (pulsed them in the blender)

1/2 C unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 C coconut oil

6 T honey

1 C dried tropical mix (pineapple, mango,papaya, cranberries, blueberries)

Directions:

1. Mix oats, nuts, cinnamon and coconut in a bowl. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan add oil, and honey. Bring to a boil, and let boil 1 to 2 min.

3. Stir honey mixture into oatmeal mixture.

4. Pour on to a cookie sheet with parchment paper on it. Bake at 275 in oven for about l5 min. Then stir in dried fruit and stir it. Let cook another 10 min. I decided I liked it less golden this time.

You can cook till your desired preference. Let cool and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!