In his own words: "Food matters. I believe that what we eat is the most important decision we make every day in terms of our health and our ability to resist and combat disease. I also believe that the shift in our diet that has occurred over the past century — from high-fat, low-carb to today's low-fat, high-carb trend, fundamentally consisting of grains and other damaging carbohydrates — is at the root of many of the modern scourges linked to the brain, including chronic headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, movement disorders, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those senior moments that quite likely herald serious cognitive decline and full-blown, irreversible, untreatable and incurable brain disease." — David Perlmutter, M.D.
What we made:
UNGRANOLA (Page 54)
1 cup chopped raw almonds
1 cup chopped raw cashews
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tablespoons flaxseed
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon stevia powder
3 tablespoons clarified butter, ghee or unsalted butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone pan liner and set aside.
Combine the almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice in a mixing bowl. Stir in the stevia. When well blended, drizzle with the butter and toss to coat.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and, using a spatula, spread it out to an even layer. Place in the preheated oven and baking, stirring occasionally, until nicely toasted and aromatic, about 25 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on a wire rack to allow the mixture to cool. When cool, serve or store in a covered contained in a cool spot for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Our assessment: The aroma of spiced nuts toasting in the oven makes the kitchen a warm, happy place. For a delicious breakfast cereal, just add about a half cup of this mixture with the same amount of almond or coconut milk and sprinkle with a handful of blueberries. This blend is also great for a snack. I've already packed it instead of trail mix for hiking. Pack a quarter cup in a plastic baggie instead of resorting to a trip to the vending machine to get through an afternoon slump.
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