September 13, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Pepita-Coconut Granola w/ Maple Roasted Plums | Dolly and Oatmeal

to be honest september stumps me in terms of cooking. it’s the height of produce season where you get the wonderful overlap of late summer and early fall mixed into one, and it’s almost too much for my brain to compute! do you have the same problem? i get into a seasonal rhythm when i’m cooking breakfast, so when a new season comes along everything kinda gets thrown out the window. i’ve been having cold summer smoothies on heavy rotation, along with almond yogurt with summer berries and almond butter. i’ve also been making amesy pancakes loaded with sliced peaches and/or blueberries.

so whenever i think of shifting to september, when we want a hint of autumnal spice, but we’re not quite ready to go full throttle, i turn to granola. it’s the perfect conduit for touches of cozy that can paired with just about anything. i tend to go for grain-free granola mixes these days, but many-to-most, store-bought varieties tout their “soft & chewy” texture. not sure about you, but i’m team “hard & crunchy” when it comes to grain-free granola. so most times i just make my own.

this granola recipe pairs 2 of my favorite things: seeds and coconut flakes. coconut flakes are the vehicle here for ultimate flavor. when it’s mixed up and baked with a bit of sweetener, spices, and salt, it absorbs all that flavor delivering the most tasty granola. the roasted plums here were an afterthought, but so worth the little bit of time to make them. you just throw them together while the granola is cooling - easy-peasy. they add a perfect little touch of summer’s end.

happy september, sweet friends!

pepita-coconut granola w/ maple roasted plums | gf/v/grain-free

PRINT THE RECIPE!

| makes roughly 3 cups granola |

2 cups coconut flakes
1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1 cup chopped almonds
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
a couple pinches fine sea salt
1/4 cup coconut nectar, maple syrup, or raw honey
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

plums

4 firm, but ripe plums, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon melted coconut oil
pinch of salt
unsweetened plant-based yogurt or milk, for serving

method

preheat oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment.
in a large bowl, mix together the coconut flakes, pepitas, almonds, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
in a small bowl, whisk together the coconut nectar, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. pour over dry ingredients. use a rubber spatula to mix the granola, making sure everything is mixed thoroughly and evenly.
spread the granola evenly into the baking sheet, pushing it out into a flat layer. bake for 25-30 minutes, mixing it halfway through, until it’s lightly browned, and fragrant. (the color of the granola will also depend on what liquid sweetener you use. mine resulted in a darker color because i used coconut nectar.)
let the granola cool, and raise the oven temperature to 400°F to roast the plums.
line a baking sheet with parchment paper and toss the plums together with coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. roast the plums cut side up for 25-30 minutes, until tender and juicy, and lightly browned around the edges. let cool for about 10 minutes.
scoop your desired amount of yogurt into a bowl. top with a good bit of granola, and 1 or 2 plum halves; drizzle a bit of the plum juices around the bowl, and enjoy!
store the granola in a sealed jar at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. store leftover plums and juices in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. reheat the plums or let them come to room temp before serving.

similar recipes:

SUPERFOOD GRANOLA W/ MACADAMIA-ALMOND MILK

A Chilled Summer Soup w/ Charred Corn & Poblano Peppers / August 30, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

A Chilled Summer Soup w/ Charred Corn & Poblano Peppers | Dolly and Oatmeal

happy end of august! i had been wanting to share this soup with you for most of the summer. it's creamy, and splendidly sweet (like good summer corn always is), and then there's a bit of heat and poblano flavor in there, which i love. i'm not the biggest pepper fan, particularly bell peppers. i love them in a good romesco, or muhammara dip/sauce, and then there are chili peppers that i'm always a fan of. but i love how poblano peppers are somewhere between a bell pepper and a chili pepper - perfect amount of flavor and heat.

this technique in this soup is what summer is all about - minimal prep and big flavor. you start by charring the corn and poblano pepper (over your gas stovetop, broiler, or grill). from there, there's a quick saute of onion and garlic, with a little bit of ground cumin. everything is then combined in a blender - salt, pepper, and lime juice are added. then there's an overnight chill in the fridge. dare i say this is the perfect end-of-summer bowl, perhaps for your holiday weekend?

in any event, i hope your summer was full and bright. here's to september! xo!

a chilled summer soup: charred corn & poblano soup | gf & v

this is best served alongside a hearty piece of toasted bread (a gluten-free sourdough is my favorite), your favorite grilled veggie sides, grilled fish or another protein. possibilities are endless :)

print the recipe!

| makes 4 servings |

1 poblano pepper
4 ears corn
2 tablespoons avocado oil (or another heat tolerant oil)
1 good-sized onion, diced
1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups vegetable broth, or water
salt & pepper
lime juice from 1 small lime
cilantro for topping

method

over a gas stovetop, under a broiler, or over a hot grill, char the pepper on all sides. place in a bowl covered with cling wrap, or in a sealed plastic bag. using your preferred method, char the cobs of corn until darkened in spots. let the corn cool, then cut the kernels from the cob. remove the pepper from the bowl or bag, and rub the skins off with your fingers. rinse under water, removing any skin that remained.
cut the pepper away from the core and discard the ribs (reserve seeds if you like a little kick of heat).
place a saute pan over medium heat. once hot, add the oil and onion. stir and cook until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes. add in the garlic and cumin; stir and cook for roughly 30 seconds, until garlic is fragrant. remove from heat and let cool.
add the corn, pepper (and seeds if using), onion saute mixture, and broth (or water) to the container of an upright blender. blend on high, stopping to scrape down the sides as you go for about a minute. season with salt and pepper, and the juice from 1/2 lime. blend once more. taste and adjust, adding more salt and pepper, and/or lime juice.
let the soup cool, then transfer to a sealed container or large jar and let cool completely, preferably overnight.
divide the soup between 4 bowls and garnish with cilantro, more pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

similar recipes:

avocado, kale & arugula chop w/ roasted poblano & lime dressing

Dark Cocoa Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches / August 23, 2018 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Dark Cocoa Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches | Dolly and Oatmeal

the mid-90s were for many things, mood rings, discmans, flannels tied around your waist, etc.,etc. but they were also for waffles and ice cream! i can't tell you how many birthday parties i attended that served them in lieu of cake, or for breakfast if it was a sleepover birthday. i was never really a big fan of ice cream cones, so the idea of a soft, warm waffle topped with melty ice cream was my dream. there were always toppings too: whipped cream, chocolate chips, hot fudge, nuts, etc. but i remember sticking to a generic version with maybe some sprinkles.

truth is, ice cream cones still are not my favorite vessel to eat ice cream out of. i much prefer a bowl of ice cream, or it sandwiches between two cookies, or in this case - waffles! yes, i'm bringing back my memories of waffles and ice cream, but i'm upgrading your waffle situation and offering you a dairy free ice cream instead - because there's an ice cream for that!

these waffles are my absolute favorite! they have a deep dark chocolate flavor, not overly sweet; and soft, but crisp enough to cradle the ice cream perfectly. and they're best served with this luscious dairy-free ice cream from Häaagen- Dazs. I grew up on Häaagen- Dazs, my parents never bought any other brands, ever. there were 2 flavors in our freezer at all times: chocolate-chocolate chip (for my dad and me), and vanilla swiss almond (for my mom and brother). and i imagine that the world is a happier place now that that they have a dairy-free line of ice creams including: coconut caramel, peanut butter chocolate fudge, and the one i'm using here: chocolate salted fudge truffle. this is the kind of ice cream i love to indulge in once in a while, it's rich, and velvety, just like traditional ice cream. and these sandwiches are the perfect treat to close out the summer with. i like making them ahead of time and freezing them for optimal coldness on these hot august days. i also love that they're portable - take them to picnic (and eat within a reasonable amount of time), a sweet snack for your kids, a late-night treat for your ice cream loving husband ;) . these delicious sandwiches know no bounds! and to save $2 when you buy 3 Häagen-Dazs or other participating Nestlé ice cream brands, click here for a coupon :)

happy last few weeks of summer, friends! xo!

this post was created in partnership with Häaagen- Dazs.. all opinions as always are my own. thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep dolly and oatmeal going!

Dark cocoa waffle ice cream sandwiches | gf & df

i like making the waffles ahead of time, keeping them in the fridge or freezer, and having them on-hand when we're need of a little summer treat.
you could also assemble the sandwiches ahead of time and freeze them (as directed in the instructions below) for up to 1 week.

PRINT THE RECIPE!

| makes roughly 8 large waffles and 14-16 sandwiches |

1 cup fine brown rice flour
1/2 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, at room temperature
2 pasture raised eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup melted unrefined coconut oil, plus more for waffle iron
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
two 14-ounce containers Häaagen- Dazs.Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle Non-Dairy ice cream

method

preheat your waffle iron.
in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cacao powder (or cocoa powder), sugar, baking soda, and salt, breaking up any clumps. in a separate bowl, whisk together the almond milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla until combined. whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until combined (batter will be a little lumpy, that's ok!)
brush your iron lightly with some coconut oil. pour a heaping 1/4 cup of batter into the center. use the back of the measuring cup to spread the batter out a bit, covering most of the waffle iron. cook according to the manufacturers instructions until slightly crisp. remove the waffle and let it cool, repeat with the remaining batter.
to assemble. remove the ice cream from your freezer, and let it sit out for about 10 minutes to soften a bit (this depends on how warm your kitchen is). cut the waffles into fourths and lay them out on a clean work surface.
take one waffle piece and scoop 2-3 portions of ice cream on it, top with the other half of waffle to make a sandwich. repeat with remaining waffles and ice cream.
eat immediately, or store in an air tight container, lined with parchment paper (this prevents them from sticking to the container) in your freezer for up to 1 week.