For those of you who have been reading NIV God’s Word for Gardeners Bible since springtime, you must be nearly to the essays on Bearing Fruit. One of the strongest garden metaphors in God’s Word, fruit bearing is pictured wonderfully in the horticultural details of pomegranates and pistachios. Enjoy a breakfast recipe celebrating both fruits, and more of Israel’s best—
Then their father Israel said to them…Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
Genesis 43:11 NIV
Granola makes a wonderful gift as well, homemade goodness from your kitchen in this gift-giving season.
Israel’s Best Granola
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix until evenly blended:
3 ½ C. old-fashioned oats
½ C. raw, shelled pistachios, crushed or chopped
1 C. sliced almonds
1 C. unsweetened coconut
3 t. cinnamon
½ t. grated nutmeg
½ t. salt
In a small bowl, whisk together:
6 T. olive oil
¾ C. honey
2 t. vanilla
½ t. almond extract
Pour oil mixture over dry ingredients and stir until thoroughly coated.
Spread across oven-proof tray or cookie sheet with deep edges, approximately 12 X 14 inches.
Bake for 70 minutes.
Let completely cool before storing in an airtight container.
A Bearing Fruit breakfast
Layer a cereal bowl with Israel’s Best granola, pomegranate seeds, and almond milk.
Too busy to peel a pomegranate? Know the feeling! Take refuge in a recent blog by the same name, conquering Christmas to-do’s with the enduring Word of God.
New to the Plant Guide
Pistachio – the little nut with the electrifying green “belly,” the fruit’s notable feature coming from its innermost part. Likewise, with the fruit of the Lord’s Spirit filling our soul, we will bear the character of the One deep within us. See Pistachio in the Plant Guide
Cinnamon – common yet extravagant in its enticing smell, it was cinnamon that made the all-out devotion of the Lord apparent to me. When researching the spices of En Gedi, and filling my imagination with the scent of cinnamon…how the whole house smells divine when baking anything cinnamon…Wow, O God, you want me to remember you whenever I smell cinnamon? That is all the time. I love to bake! See Cinnamon in the Plant Guide
Photo Captions:
©2014 Shelley S. Cramm Israel’s Best Granola combines oats with some of the best of the land from Genesis 43:11—honey, spices, pistachios, and almonds.
©2014 Shelley S. Cramm Crush whole pistachio nuts into smaller pieces for better texture and flavor throughout the cereal.
