Hearty Southern Granola

I find that I am eating to fuel my body these days. Carbs, protein, energy bars. I have come to accept the equation: food + body = energy, energy = volleyball success. Speaking of success...we won our first game on Wednesday! We have an all-day tournament tomorrow, starting at 8:00 am. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

HEARTY SOUTHERN GRANOLA
This simple granola has a nice nutty, fruity flavor and is not too sweet. It provides great energy and will keep you satisfied. Makes one large or two small servings.

• 1 cup GF rolled oats
• ¼ cup pecans
• ¼ cup raisins
• 1 peach
• ½ tsp. sugar
• ¼ tsp. vanilla
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. arrowroot starch, if needed

Preheat oven to 300ºF. Stir together the oats, pecans and raisins. Put the sliced peach in a food processor and process until it turns into a thick liquid – I left the skin on, but you can remove it if you like. In a non-stick pan, simmer the peach, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until they are the consistency of applesauce, but a little syrupy. If the mixture is too thin, add the arrowroot starch to thicken it up. Stir the peach sauce over the oats, pecans & raisins, stirring well to cover completely. Bake for 5 minutes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Rotate tray; stir granola. Continue baking for 20-30 minutes, or until the granola is crunchy. Serve with fresh peaches.