Highly Addictive...will 100% change your life. You have been warned!

I’m moving house, and let me tell you, there is nothing more stressful than keeping a home in "showroom condition" for two weeks with a family of four! To survive the open homes without losing my mind (or my pristine kitchen), I took matters into my own hands.

Meal-prep, clever shopping, and strategic stashing in the fridge and freezer certainly saved the day. Can 100% be made in the airfryer, but you will need to do batches. 

Brilliant to make a full batch and then live happily ever after...

As a busy family of four, there were hungry mouths to feed but a kitchen that had to stay spotless. If you are ever moving or selling, take it from me: Spend the time prepping meals and then stashing them. It literally saved us thousands. If we had eaten out the 8–10 times we were forced "out of the house" for viewings with all four of us plus the pooches, the cost would have skyrocketed. We actually have nicknamed our freezer "UBER EATS" because the amount of times we grabbed a pre-prepped meal out of there was very often!

My NEW Favorite Pantry Staple: House-Made Gorgeous Granola

One of the pantry staples that was PERFECT to have on hand was my house-made gorgeous granola. It’s the ultimate grab-and-go breakfast, a quick lunch, and my favorite healthier "desserty" treat after dinner.

Am I weird? I love granola and yogurt as a healthy dessert! Be warned though: it’s full of energy (calories), so don't kid yourself too much!

Chef Mel’s Pro Tip: You can adapt this recipe to fit your family's tastes. If you prefer muesli, simply follow the steps but don't bake it! I made a massive 3.6kg batch for less than $25. If you're going to do the work, be smart—make heaps! It lasts beautifully in an airtight container, or you can pop half in the freezer for up to a year.

---

Recipe: Cinnamon, Maple, and Vanilla Granola (Bulk Batch)

Prep time: 10 mins | Bake time: 25 mins | Yield: 3.6kg of crunchy goodness

The Dry Mix:

1.8 kg rolled oats

300g pepita seeds

300g sunflower seeds

300g linseeds

300g almond meal

300g cashews (optional)

4 teaspoons cinnamon

300g chopped dates, raisins, or dried fruit (apple, mango, or berries)

The Wet Mix:

300g coconut oil (melted) or butter

300ml maple syrup (or 300g brown sugar if you want "clusters")

20 ml vanilla extract

Method:

1. Prep: Place all dry ingredients into a large baking tray.

2. Coat: Melt your coconut oil (or butter) in the microwave. Stir in the maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour this over the dry mix and stir until every oat is coated.

3. The Cluster Secret: If you want those chunky clusters, use brown sugar and add an extra 150g of coconut oil to "wet" the mix, then pack it down firmly like a giant cookie.

4. Bake: Place into a pre-heated oven at 180°C for 20–25 minutes. or in your airfryer for 6-8 minutes at a time until brown and delicious.

5. The "Chef Mel" Stir: Set an alarm! Stir the mix every 8 minutes to ensure the underneath toasts evenly. (If making clusters, don't stir—just let it firm up and brown).

6. Cool: Remove from heat, let it cool completely to get that crunch, and store in an airtight container.

Please let me know what you think and what flavor combinations you tried!

Happy baking! Chef Mel