Power granola: a recipe for pure brain fuel

Do you need a slap in the face in the morning?

Or maybe something to help drag you through the dreaded daily slump? Enter this easy and delicious granola... aka food heaven. Only three people in this world know my go-to recipe for granola. Obviously it's no longer a secret but rather a secret weapon. This nutty, fruity granola is the only food guaranteed to help me push through that inevitable late afternoon brain-fail... This recipe makes one large (unbelievably yummy and guilt-free) batch... Ingredients 3 cups mixed nuts (almonds/hazelnuts/macadamia/brazil/walnuts... whatevs) ⅔ cup dried fruit (plums, dried cherries, cranberries, goji berries, figs or dates) ½ cup pumpkin/sunflower seeds ⅔ cup desiccated coconut ½ cup coconut flakes (optional) 2 tbsp maple/agave syrup 2-3 tbsp honey (rice malt syrup, maple syrup or coconut syrup can also be used) 1 tbsp vanilla extract 2-3 spoons of coconut oil, melted 1-2  tbsp chia seeds Optional (and yum): zest of 1 orange Method 1. Preheat oven to 165 °C. 2. Add two and a half cups of whole nuts (reserve the rest as whole nuts for crunchy texture) and the dried fruit to a food processor. Process the mixture into medium size crumbs, some of it will turn into finer flour/meal like consistency but that's what we want - a variety of shapes and sizes. Transfer to a large bowl. 3. Add the remaining whole nuts and the maple syrup, the honey, the vanilla extract and the melted coconut oil. Mix well and use a wooden spoon or a spatula to break up any clumps that form – you don't need to be too militant, a few little clumps make for nice clusters in the granola. Add in the orange zest at this point (if using). 4. Grease a big baking tray with a little melted coconut oil and line it with baking paper, making sure the sides are covered. Spoon the yummy mix into the tray and flatten out evenly. Toast the granola in the oven for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently until it is evenly golden in colour. Allow to cool completely before sprinkling in the chia seeds and storing in an airtight container. 5. Enjoy with coconut milk, yoghurt, fresh fruit, honey, ice cream we could go on and on... and on.