Honey-Almond Granola [and doing good when the world is hurting]
I’ve had this recipe sitting in my drafts for months, waiting to get posted. But every time I’ve gone to write and publish, I don’t have the words. It’s not because of the recipe itself. This granola has become one of my go-to, simple, make-ahead breakfasts. It’s because when the world feels like it’s falling apart, why bother posting about granola?
It feels dumb, honestly.
I’ve shared about this tension before, about how it’s strange to do ordinary, mundane things when people are deeply suffering. I want to fix it, to make a difference, to bring about real, lasting change.
But I’m constantly reminded that I’m not the Savior (thank you, Lord). I can’t swoop in and fix the each tragedy I hear in the news. I can’t even swoop in and fix all the problems in my own household. I don’t have to bear the weight of the world, because Christ already did that on the cross.
Yet I don’t need to stick my head in the sand, either. I shouldn’t sit idly, believing there’s nothing I can do.
Instead, I can listen, learn, pray, give, lament, petition, and more. I don’t have to feel paralyzed. I can act in meaningful ways that may not heal the world, but they can make a difference. Even our small acts of loving God and loving others matter.
As I wrestle through what God calls me to do in my own sphere of influence, I’m reminded that meeting the ordinary needs of my own family isn’t “doing nothing.” Preparing breakfast and packing lunches and throwing in a load of laundry is hardly glamorous. It’s thankless and small and sometimes can feel meaningless. But it’s something. It’s one action I’m called to do in this wearying and chaotic season. It’s what the people in my life need, and it’s a need I can meet.
Paul writes in Galatians, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).
“When the world is on fire, we can’t do everything. But we can do something.”
We cannot do everything. But there are plenty of people we can “do good to.” There are plenty of people in our our homes, in our communities, and even across the world to whom we can show the love of God.
When the world is on fire, we can’t do everything. But we can do something.
What good are you called to do in this season?
P.S. If you’re specifically looking to act on behalf of those in Afghanistan check out some of the practical action steps that World Relief has shared. To support those suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake, check out Feed My Starving Children (an organization I love and used to work for). To help provide clean drinking water and food to Latino, immigrant, and migrant communities along the Southern Border and in Latin America., check out the Immigration Coalition.
(P.P.S. Scroll down for the recipe!)
One thing I love about this recipe is that it’s easily giftable. Drop off a batch for a friend who’s sick, invite a family member over for brunch, or encourage a neighbor by providing an easy, homemade breakfast for them. When we don’t know what else to do, making food is one simple way we can show love to others.
Honey-Almond Granola
Yields 5-6 Cups
1 egg white, beaten until slightly frothy
3 cups old-fashioned, rolled oats
1 cup roughly chopped almonds (raw, unsalted)
½ cup honey* (plus more or brown sugar if you want it sweeter–see note below)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl. Stir until everything is thoroughly mixed.
Spread the granola mixture out onto the baking sheet. For larger clumps of granola, using the back of a large spoon or a spatula, press down on the mixture to help it stick together.
Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes, rotating the pan (most ovens don’t heat evenly) and turning the granola over halfway through. For nice, big pieces of granola, use a large spatula to turn large chunks of the granola over at a time. If you don’t want the big pieces, you can just give it all a quick toss before returning the pan to the oven.
When the granola has browned and feels mostly dry to the touch, remove it and set it aside to cool completely. (If you’re using the brown sugar, it may not feel quite as dry until the sugar cools and hardens.) Resist the urge to stir, otherwise you’ll lose all those glorious big chunks!
Once it’s cooled, break it into whatever sized bits you prefer. Serve with yogurt, fruit, or any other toppings you like!
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple weeks, or freeze for several months.
*The recipe as written makes a lightly sweetened granola. If you want it sweeter, add additional honey or up to a ¼ cup of brown sugar. With the brown sugar, you’ll get a rich, sweet, and slightly sticky granola that’s rather addicting. Ask me how I know.
