Earlier this month I got to hangout with my friend Renee McCormack to talk about (and taste) her delicious granola. Renee and I have been friends since elementary school. We navigated East Hampton High School together and now Renee lives there full-time and runs her business FOODfitness. Both Cassandra and I are obsessed with her granola clusters – especially because they are organic and gluten-free (yay!).
And…I figure it’s about time we share this East Hampton gem.
Renee has always been a huge fan of granola. On her family’s annual summer road trips – across the US and Canada – she’d grab up every type of granola she could find. Eventually, after lots of sampling and baking countless batches of her own, she mastered her three signature flavors; Maple Vanilla Peanut Butter, Coconut Cranberry Cocoa Nib, Sunflower Superseed Bee Pollen.
Currently, Renee bakes all of the granola herself! She bakes 3 days a week from the wee hours of the morning into the night. Her Cassandra's Kitchen half sheet pans come in handy. She also uses our pre-cut parchment baking sheets, they are one of her baking necessities. These clusters are definitely a labor of love – maybe that’s the secret ingredient that makes them so delicious. The granola clusters are great to add to muffins or pancakes, with milk or yogurt, or just out of the bag as a snack.
During the summer in East Hampton, we spend a lot of time on the beach. Renee always brings ‘granola bowls.’ They are so good and full of healthy, powerful ingredients. Usually there’s some mix of granola; nut or rice milk; assorted frozen fruit; protein powder; flax, hemp, or chia seed; and something special like cocoa nibs, bee pollen, mint or spices. One of my favorites is the Berry-licious Bowl with Sunflower Superseed Bee Pollen Granola. Love the combo of banana and berries. I’ve added the full recipe below.
Renee started her business because she wanted to promote a food product that lined up with her healthy lifestyle. She tries to live by the concept, ‘food is thy medicine’ and eats as much raw food as possible – with a focus on variety. Granola is the only real consistent in her diet, (and maybe dark chocolate). Renee snacks a lot, and aside from red meat, she eats a little of everything – in moderation. Seafood, salads, even dessert. She ends the day with a home-cooked meal with her family and a cup of peppermint tea.
Eventually, Renee would like to expand her distribution nation-wide, but for now you can find FOODFitness Granola at specialty shops in East Hampton or you can click here to have it delivered to your door. For more info on Renee and FOODfitness granola, visit http://ecofoodfitness.weebly.com/granola-clusters.html
We know you'll enjoy it as much as we do!
--Cindy
Berry-licious Bowl with Sunflower Superseed Bee Pollen Granola Clusters
Ingredients
Bowl
1 cup Rice, oat, hemp, or other milk
1/2 of a Frozen banana
3 Strawberries
1 Handful blueberries + raspberries
1 Scoop protein powder - plain, vanilla or berry flavor
1 Tablespoon flax or chia seeds (or both!)
Handful ice
Toppings
1/2 banana, sliced
2-3 strawberries, sliced
Handful of blueberries, raspberries or fruit of choice
¾ Cup of Sunflower Superseed Bee Pollen Granola Clusters
Directions
Blend bowl ingredients together with immersion blender or standing blender until smooth. (Renee loves her Vitamix.) Pour into bowl. Mason jars are great for travel or transport.
Next, add toppings and enjoy.