The Most Expensive (Pumpkin) Granola Ever

Yes, that is the title I am giving this new granola recipe I found online. Clearly all I do now in my free time is google #paleo #healthyeating #glutenfreedairyfree recipes. While I have never, EVER, been in to cooking pre (let's call it) the epiphany...I have decided that if I am going to commit, I need to really jump head first onto this bandwagon! So yes, I am pinning the crap out of recipes and, wait for it, actually making them! Matt is #sosurprised! We made an incredible pasta-free (gasp) lasagna for some friends the other night, a turkey chili last night (recipes to follow) and my incredible unique, frustratingly-expensive granola bars. I am not going to lie to you...the recipe sounds better than it tastes. But to caveat, this is coming from the girl that LOVES gluten and dairy. So for a no gluten/no dairy dessert - it is probably great. At least it had chocolate on it!

I feel like I could easily say - oh wow, paleo, you are just as good as my regular recipes. Two things: 1. That would be a lie, and 2. Please, like I had any recipes before now. But seriously, are we going to try to compare a chili with ground turkey, carrots and celery to the buffalo mac and cheese dish I ate in Chicago a mere 3 months ago!?!? No. Obviously mac and cheese wins every.time. But I have decided it isn't fair to just say "blah" to these delightful new recipes I am finding, and rather, enjoy the new flavors, foods and combinations I never even realize existed.

So - back to the granola. I call it "the most expensive granola ever" because, well this first batch really was. $67! Matt nearly had a cow when he realized the entire bill was for one "snack". But to be fair, and as I reminded him, (hopefully) these are ingredients we will now be using going forward for several different recipes. Ingredients such as...Coconut oil (did you know it comes in a solid form - yuck), pumpkin seeds (who knew you could buy these and not just get them from your carving pumpkin), flax seeds (don't get me started) and so on! We are Italians in Lundeland - so the only oil we were cooking with was olive oil. Honestly though, I could buy into these new ingredients. Everything I read about these "super healthy new, slightly less delicious" ingredients seems quite positive. Also, how can you dislike something that makes you feel better. So earthy grocery stores that used to make me uncomfortable because I didn't know any of the foods you were selling - watch out - I'm coming in, wallet and all!

Here is a look at - and recipe for - the granola. Hopefully you have more of the ingredients already in your pantry so it is just a Pumpkin granola - and not a budget breaking snack! It is growing on me though. I will probably switch out the golden berries next time and go with dried blueberries. Something a little less tangy! Thanks to the internet and all of the very talented chefs that make snacks like this a possibility!