My own "Pinoy" granola. After Yolanda I see the stars

It was 6pm yesterday night when I left the hospital with baby Juanan. It is peak hour in Makati so bad traffic. While I was absorbed in my own thoughts, looking at the advertisement of Krispy Kream doughnut, "HOPE, be strong Philippines" of course, the "o" was the doughnut, I had this conversation with my driver Frank:

- Ma'am, my uncle talked to me last night from Tacloban- Frank said

- Wow, that's good news! your relatives are alive!- I replied excited for him and his family

- Yes, but my uncle said that it would have been less painful if also the survivors had died by the typhoon because they are suffering a slow death by hunger. They are angry and hungry. And also the smell of the stacked water, dead bodies, and the rubbish (plus a lack of toilets...) it is unbearable.- he said with a broken voice.

- I am sorry Frank, for you and for all of them- I said trying to find the appropriated words.

- Yes, it is bad, thank you ma'am. My nephew of 5 years old told me over the phone: "Tito Frank, when I go to bed I can see the stars, and when I wake up, I STILL see the starts! I don't know what happened to the roof! I am so cold tito Frank, could you buy me a jumper?"

I arrived home, tired and hungry, and I appreciated once again how lucky we were of having such a comfort life, with a big roof and a warm dinner on the table.

Nick left this morning to Cebu and then tomorrow to Tacloban to see in person the  catastrophe and to help with the Australian donations (tents, for example). He will tell me the real story when he gets back and I am sure he will be very touched by what he will see.

So after that conversation I had with my driver, I woke up this morning thinking about the filipinos and their strength, about the 7.000 islands that are called Philippines, and about the local ingredients I could use more in my cooking, not only because they are more fresh and cheaper than the imported, but also because it is a way to support the Filipino produce.  

Sometimes I persist with the same dish trying different recipes because I want to make it right. When I fail, I wonder which mistake I made so I can try it again. After many unsuccessful attempts of making a nice granola that is not too sweet, heavy or greasy using a variety of recipes from the "healthy chef" that Jane makes beautifully; from Gordon Ramsay; from Donna Hay; from the magazine of Bon Apetite of 2011...I decided to follow my instinct to make my own recipe using the two healthy ingredients we have in Philippines: pili nuts and extra virgin coconut oil.

I hope you try this recipe for granola and you like it. If you don't, you can always blame my recipe! or make your own one...

My own Pinoy granola recipe

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of Maple syrup (or 1/4 maple syrup and 1/4 honey)
• 1/4 cup of virgin coconut oil cold processed. Substitute for any of these: sunflower oil, walnut or macadamia oil or grapeseed oil
• 1/2 cup of pili nuts, if you can get them
• 1 cup of mixed nuts such as pepitas, chopped almonds or sunflower seeds
• 1/2 organic apricots (they look black). Otherwise, the non-organic one are fine.
• 1/2 mini dried sultanas
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds 
• orange peel in stripes of 3 oranges

1. Preheat oven 140C
2. Spread the oats on a shallow non-stick baking tray. Make sure that they are spread in a thin layer so they cook evenly. Place the tray in the middle low rack. Cook them for 15 minutes, stirring often, until they have some light brown colour and aroma.
3. Remove the tray from the oven. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Transfer the oats into a big bowl. Meanwhile, blend the maple syrup with the oil. Pour it over the oats and coat all of them. Spread the oats on the tray and put it back again for another 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
4. Add the nuts to the tray and cook for 10 minutes longer.
5. Set it aside, let it cool. Add the apricots, sultanas, chia seeds and the orange peel. Mix it through.When it is cool, break a bit the granola with your fingers and keep it in a seal glass jar. 

Note:

• The virgin coconut oil is 92% saturated fat but mostly Medium Chain Triglycerides which are good for you (apparently it has over 200 known medical uses). It is better if you buy the Cold Processed and A No Heat process. The Philippine Virgin Coconut oil is made from fresh and mature coconuts. Otherwise, the "fake" oil is made from copra (so avoid buying it).
• Pili nuts are a rich source of heart healthy  omegas and contain 8 essential amino acids, magnesium, and Vitamin E, more than any nut.
• I also support the small local producers when I buy strawberries from Bagio; eggs and chicken from a Laguna farm ( one day I will have my own chickens like my sisters in-law Jane and Hol ); I order fresh milk, soya flan and yogurt from Batangas; my driver brings me bananas whenever he can also from Batangas; fish and vegetables from Baclaran market; meat from a tiny shop underneath the studio where I do yoga...Try to buy local if it is possible, you will make a difference to them ( and to you ).

PS: Like everybody here and around the world, my family is helping the people who are struggling after the typhoon. Frank has sent a box of second hand blankets, warm clothes and some of Aurelia and Gab's toys. He will go next week to build a new roof for his nephew.