HOLY GRANOLA (vanilla cinnamon chocolate chip, to be exact)

Super quick post today, mostly because it's out of the typical Tuesday schedule.

But I couldn't wait! I had to post this somewhere! 

I made granola the other day. Like, from scratch. Not out of a bag. And it had protein, because I've somehow become the Emeril of mixing protein powder into things (because I'm serious about my gainz, man).

And I thought I'd pass it along for anyone who was:
a) craving granola (I'm not alone on that...right?),
b) wondering how to use a clean protein powder in something that was not a shake,
c) looking for a "navigate the middle" solution to sustainable #snaxxx, and/or
d) just here for the food pics.

Without further ado...

INGREDIENTS:
1/3c almond butter
1/4c honey
1t vanilla
1t cinnamon
2T ground flaxseeds
1scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder (which is my favorite, from a digestion standpoint. It can be found here: http://bit.ly/2aSxOLV - and, full disclosure, I am a brand partner for this line, so your purchase will be used to fund the continuation of #StrongBySteph...or Lara Croft's ridiculous antics. You know.)
pinch Himalayan sea salt (fancy. You could, alternately, use the reggie salt.)
2c rolled oats
1/3c chocolate chips

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 325.
Melt the almond butter and honey over low heat in a saucepan (or microwave, if you're as impatient in feeding the beast as I am). Once it's all melty and incorporated, add vanilla and remove from heat.
Off heat, add cinnamon, flax, salt, and protein. Stir until well combined.
Add oats last, stirring until little clusters form.
Spread in a single layer on a prepared (I just used spray) baking sheet.
Bake 10m, stir, then 10m more.
Cool completely, then stir in chocolate chips.

YES PLEASE.

Until Tuesday! <3