During the summer I taught at Spotlight on Opera again, and, as I did last summer, I ate a very restrictive keto diet. This is no great hardship, for I don't really care for the local cuisine (lots and lots of wonderful fried foods that tend to not agree with me.)
One little cheat I allowed myself was my friend Cindy's version of a keto cereal that she had found online. Now, this cereal relies heavily on coconut, and there's quite a bit of it, so I can't in good conscience call it keto (coconut oil, yes, but coconut flesh is very sweet and carby.)
In addition to running her program, Cindy would have to bat my hand away from this stuff. It's very delicious (hence it's name) and it stays remarkably crunchy in milk (I drink unsweetened almond milk) or yogurt (which turns it into a yummy stand in for dessert.)
This is one of the easiest things to make in the whole world; you simply mix the ingredients together, and then toss in the oven for about 10 minutes (keep an eye out, as it can burn quickly.)
This will last you about a week or so; you can enjoy it for breakfast, or as a snack, or as a dessert.
Without further ado, I give you vanilla protein crack cereal.
Ingredients:
8 oz unsweetened shredded coconut
8 oz unsweetened coconut chips
8 oz toasted pecans (salted or unsalted, your choice)
1 cup of toasted pepitas
1/2 cup of walnuts (optional)
2 scoops of vanilla whey protein powder (or any vanilla protein of your choice.)
3 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil
Method:
1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.) Melt the coconut oil.
3.) Toast the nuts.
4.) Assemble all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. You want the coconut oil as dispersed as possible.
5.) place the entire mixture in one thin layer on a foil lined baking sheet.
6.) Bake for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it and check around the 8 minute point. I like a little toasty color, as I think it enhances the taste.
7.) Allow the cereal to cool, and enjoy with milk or yogurt (or by the handful!)
No, it's not going to win any beauty contests, but neither would a normal box of cereal that had been tipped out onto a baking sheet!
