Cinnamon Raisin Rawnola

More often than not I find myself sneaking out of the house before the sunrise and am well into my workout as the sun begins to come up. With my flexible work schedule, I could easily workout at 8, or even 9 o’clock, but that would mean swimming or running alone. And I truly feel that companionship during my work out is well worth waking up that extra hour or two earlier!It is especially fun to train with people faster and stronger than I am. It keeps me motivated and honest. But waking up super early requires discipline and some preparation. When I wake up that early I can usually do without food, however, I always find that I perform better with just a little bit of fuel in my system. This also helps me to avoid feeling famished when I’m done with my workout.I was so excited when I come across Daily Harvest. It is a product that makes life so much easier at 5 am when you are rushing out the door. It is a pre-made organic frozen smoothie that that all you need to do is blend! I like to have food in my car so I can enjoy it right after my workout. Because, as you probably know, the most important meal is the one you eat within 60 minutes of a workout. That is when your muscles are broken down and looking to replenish. By eating within that time frame you may find you’re less sore, faster to recover, and have more energy throughout your day. So convenience is key! Most of the time packaged bars are not an option for me because they are loaded with unhealthy ingredients. I like to eat them only during a long bike ride or when traveling. I recently wrote a blog post breaking down some of my favorite bars and why I like them.Daily Harvest offers pre-portioned smoothies filled with organic greens, fruits and even nut butters, making this a complete recovery meal or snack. Then I came across Maple Water! At first I was skeptical, I avoid maple syrup because I rather use whole foods like dates or fruits to sweeten anything. Sugars that masquerade as syrups or honey are “gateway” drugs that lead people to eat a ton of extra processed foods! So I figured Maple Water was just another sugary drink. Totally false! It actually has half the sugar and calories found in coconut water! It’s slightly sweet, really refreshing, and goes so perfectly with the Daily Harvest Cardio Cocoa Blend!To blend my Daily Harvest Smoothie I used a Nutribullet which I never used before! I was amazed with how strong the motor is! For a tiny little blender it was able to blend all the frozen fruits and vegetables in the Daily Harvest mix, making it smooth and creamy. And yes, it left no green chunks! Score. My favorite part of the Nutribullet is being able to travel with and drink from the same cup I used for blending. Now I can have a nutritious smoothie made in seconds and waiting for me in my car after my workout.The other day I happened to be enjoying my smoothie at home so I decided to make a “smoothie bowl” and create some fun toppings! I made a “Rawnola”- Raw Granola. Again I used the Nutribullet. It was able to process everything easily and then I reused it to blend the smoothie – less mess and less dishes! I seriously hate cleaning up. Another reason I love this blender is that with Nutribullet nothing gets stuck on the bottom like it does with my normal blender. I never have to stick my hand in between the blades while I attempt to fish out the food without cutting my fingers. Since the Nutribullet has a screw top, anything left at the “bottom” can easily and safely be take out. No danger and no waste!

Warning this “Rawnola” is addicting and should be eaten in moderation (someone please teach me what that word means!). But it’s made with 100% real whole foods and makes for the perfect smoothie topping. Or keep it in the freezer for when you’re just in the mood to snack. It almost tastes like cinnamon raisin cookie dough. Use this as a topping next time you make a smoothie or even banana ice cream. Enjoy – but don’t hate me because you ate the whole thing in one sitting. Hehehe 🙂

Recipe:

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• dash salt
• 1/2 cup dates (soaked in warm water)
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a Nutribullet or food processor process oats, almonds, cinnamon and salt until a flour-like substance appears, around 30 seconds
2. Then add your dates, raisins and vanilla extract. Process again until a crumbly dough-like mixture forms.
3. Sprinkle on a smoothie or your favorite ice cream. Store in an airtight container in the freezer to preserve freshness.

Note: this can be done with any nut or dried fruit you have