Grapefruit granola bars.

I was thinking recently about "seasonal foods".  Nowadays we can get most things whenever we want but I remember when I was younger my mum always wanted us to buy "seasonal fruit and veg".  I didn't really understand at the time, I assumed it was something to do with fair-trade? I think really it was about supporting Bristish produce.  Eating what we had grown.  I think that's why we grew our own fruit and veg, that and the fact it was essential free food (for the squirrels…).

Anyway I thought it might be nice to see when fruits were seasonal and see if I could come up with some recipes.  My original plan was to come up with a new recipe a week but we all know that's never going to happen!

What foods are seasonal in April I hear you ask? Well, lots.  Is the simple answer.  I decided to focus on fruits because I prefer baking as opposed to cooking and I picked two.

April = grapefruit and pomegranate.

Two of my favourite fruits (although pomegranate is a bitch to eat).

So my first recipe is Grapefruit granola bars, perfect for breakfasts on the go (or if you are like me and would rather sleep for an extra 10 minutes than have breakfast).  I was going to blog about granola bars a while ago but I burned them and then I couldn't be bothered to try again but here we go.

You may think grapefruit and granola don't mix but I think it adds a refreshing twist to the sweetness of the honey and maple syrup in the granola.  Why don't you see for yourself?

Grapefruit Granola Bars

To start with you need to make the granola (if you are a lazy arse/don't have time you could buy this).  I have altered this recipe from Elizabeth Rider, a slightly annoying healthy American lady (http://www.elizabethrider.com/easy-healthy-homemade-granola-recipe/).

Before I start, you need to know 3 things about granola:

1. It's not as healthy as you think
2. It tastes gross if you burn it.
3. You can use any nuts, fruit and seeds that you have in your cupboard.  Seriously just shove 'em all in.
4. It is advisable to get the most expensive ingredients (but unless you're Gwenyth Paltrow, Sainsbury's own brand will be just fine)

Ingredients:

For the granola (makes 550g):

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup nuts

1/4 cup seeds

1/2 cup dried fruit

2-3 tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp coconut oil (any healthy looking oil will do)

For the breakfast bars:

550g granola (see above)

110g butter

31/2 tbsp honey

110 light muscovado sugar

Zest of one grapefruit

2 tbsp grapefruit juice

For the topping

5 tbsp greek/natural yogurt

3 tbsp grapefruit

Method:

Preheat oven to 145°C

1. Put all granola ingredients in a bowl and mix well (with your hands ideally)

2. Spread out on a baking tray (the bigger the tray the better, you want it all spread out flat) and put in oven for 8-10 minutes (DO NOT LEAVE THE KITCHEN - YOU WILL FORGET ABOUT IT AND IT WILL BURN)

3. Place in a bowl and leave to cool.

Turn oven up to 180°C

4. Melt the butter, honey and sugar in a saucepan in a saucepan

5. Add in the zest and juice of grapefruit.

6. Add to the granola and mix together.

7.  Put into a lined maller baking tray and push down.

8. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes

9. To make the topping mix the juice and yogurt together and artfully (or not) spread over the top.

8. When cool cut into small bars and wrap individual bars in foil or greaseproof paper (the latter looks nicer but is less practical). If you put yogurt on them, don't forget to store them in the fridge - I did an almost ate mould this morning. Yum!

Enjoy! Here's so pictures of when I made them: