I’m primed by Whole Foods.
Did you know that stores are priming you to buy certain things? They use store layout, temperature, displays, dewy mist on fresh veggies… they even leave the cantaloupes in the cartons at WF to make then feel more “rustic” (read: farm fresh).
Bananas and apples have “ideal” colors for sales. Despite the beautiful color, the average grocery store apple is actually 14 months old according to this article. Gross.
Unfortunately, you can look at my grocery bill and see that Whole Foods‘ visual merchandising works on me. And I majored in advertising!
Funny how logic tells you one thing, yet impulse still takes over…
It seems I’ve also been primed by Delta and Biscoff. Impulse took over and I am posting an airplane-inspired delicacy today because I’m leaving for Italia tonight!!! I thought this trip would never get here.
Well, it’s almost here. I have a 730am meeting that is 30-45 min north of the city. Why didn’t I take today off?!
We are flying Delta, which means I will be enjoying more than my fair share of Biscoff. And I will be praying for an upgrade.
Naturally, I made Biscoff Granola to take with me.
Crunchy, cinnamon-laced, cookie-inspired.
These are filled with raw oatmeal, sunflower seeds, and cashews as the base. The coconut give it a little chew and the cacao nibs bring a cocoa-coffee-laced flavor (coffee + Biscoff = perfection).
It’s fantastic on it’s own, with yogurt, on ice cream, and atop a bowl of oats with PB.
Click here to order your own Biscoff spread from their website.
Biscoff Granola
- 1/2 C sunflower seeds (raw, unsalted)
- 1/2 C cashew pieces (raw, unsalted)
- 1/2 C oatmeal (uncooked)
- 1/4 C unsweetened coconut chunks (shredded would work too)
- 2 T cacao nibs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 T Biscoff spread
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Flax egg (1 T ground flax + 1 T water)
Preheat oven to 325F.
Combine ingredients in a large bowl, mixing to combine. Add wet ingredients and stir until well-blended.
Press mixture onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 mins. Let cool completely before breaking apart. Store in air-tight container.
Note: this is a “crumbly” granola. I use a flax egg as a binder, but if you want yours to stick together in more clusters, try adding a tablespoon of maple syrup or agave.
***
During my travels, I’ll try to find the perfect wine to pair with Biscoff. 🙂
Are you a knowing victim of visual merchandising?
What is the best trip you’ve ever taken?
You can also give away the name of your Biscoff supplier in Texas… 😉
I love this recipe…I’m totally going to have to try this…just as soon as my insane stash of cereal and granola dwindles a bit. [If ever!] You know I hate wasting what I’ve already got. However, if this could sell Biscoff at the store…maybe I can make it and call it “work.”
The reason the produce is so tempting is because stores like Whole Foods (and the store where I work) cull all of the produce throughout the day, removing anything even remotely unsightly. You won’t find anything “old” but that means a lot of perfectly good (but ugly) food gets thrown into compost (or the trash…not sure about other stores besides mine). That’s why I try to “save” the ugly, but still good, produce! 🙂
The thing about the apples is that they are often cold-stored, or vacuum-frozen (something like that) so that we can have them year round.
I almost forgot….have a fabulous trip!!!!
Interesting article. However, the author never says apples found at Whole Foods have an average age of 14 months. Though one would be led to believe this because the entire article is aimed at Whole Foods and the author has simply presented his argument in a way that most readers will come the conclusion he desires…WF is bad.
On top on this does it matter how old an apple really is if it is cellared/stored properly?
Good writing but poor ethics.
Have a great weekend!
I really really need to try Biscoff!!
This looks like the best way to kick off your flight!!! Have fun in Italy!!
I am totally hooked on biscoff right now. I bought it thinking I would make something with it but have been eating it on all sorts of stuff the jar is sadly almost empty. This granola sounds fantastic. I guess I’ll have to go get another jar so I can make some. 🙂
You had my at Biscoff. <3
This looks so good!! But, can I just say that I’m grossed out by the apples being 14 months old?? ewww- but I’m a victim of visual merchandising. I love buying shiny apples and grapes!! 😛
That granola is ingenious! I actually have a whole sleeve of biscoff cookies leftover from my trip back to Korea. I WILL be trying to make it last a while! I am a total sucker for great marketing and I know it. I’ll tell myself that and I still make the purchase anyway. Ah well, I’m helping those advertising people keep their jobs right?
You already know my favorite trip happened in Italia 😀 It was a trip to Rome and Pompeii. It was fantastic. I’m thinking Pompeii may be my next WIBW.
I’m more of a sale victim than merchandising… even if it’s something I wouldn’t normally buy. Safe travels! <3
It’s sad that fruit and beg are no longer sold fresh, apart from local farmers markets. I recently attended an organic produce market and could actually smell the lettuce from a few steps away – that’s how fresh it was! I try to get my fruit and beg from those sources now.
PS Love the look of your granola! PPS Have a great time in Italy, hope that upgrade came through!
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