This is most effective when eaten as the last meal of the day. One and a half cups with almond milk a couple of hours before you sleep should make you happy. 

Ingredients are replaceable = foundation recipe provided:
Dry Ingredients:

• 4 C Raw Oats
• 3 C Mixed Nuts / Flax Seed / etc.
• 2 TBSP Ground Cinnamon
• 1 C Dried Fruit

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/4 C Coconut Oil
• 1/4 C Honey
• 1/2 C Maple Syrup
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• (Optional) 1 C Peanut Butter

Technique:
1. Mix all dry ingredients except for the dried fruit in a massive bowl
2. Add all the wet ingredients in a small pot and mix at VERY LOW heat until fully combined and melted
3. Preheat oven @ 350 F / 175 C
4. Combine Wet + Dry Ingredients - mix well. 
5. Spread mixture on large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Foil is okay, also. 
6. Cook for 12 minutes.
7. Remove from oven. (Optional: Add Chai Seeds) Turn granola with spatula. 
8. Cook for 12 minutes. 
9. Remove from oven. Add dry fruit, mix and let stand for 1 hour. 

I found an easy way to clean your system, reduce toilet paper and satisfy midnight cravings : homemade granola. It's high in fiber - keeping everything together on the way out - and when you pair it with a cup of almond milk - everything should flow right through.  I've become quite particular about my granola and my favorite at Whole Foods is way too expensive for me to stock 2 bags a week.
This is one of the simplest things you'll ever make - and the kids will be incentivized by adding their own touch to the recipe.  

Experiment with the ratio of oats, nuts & seeds, and dried fruit. You can research the best ingredients to compliment your health. Personally, I'm more about texture and flavor aftertaste - but discover your own passion and purpose. 
My favorites: Pine nuts, walnuts, flax seed, steel cut oats (adds a crunch - like the old Grapenut cereal), banana chips, dried apricots, dried cranberries, raisins, sliced and whole almonds, and Chai seeds (should be added mid-way or at the end to avoid moisture exposure - which will cause the seeds to expand). 

My favorite bag of store bought granola is at Whole Foods - Kind Peanut Butter something. It costs $6 bucks a bag - I can devour 2 a week. $12 / week becomes $48 / month on granola. Absurd. Go to Costco, Smart & Final or the Mexican Grocery Store and get ingredients in bulk. The total costs should run you, max $40. And that should be good for a couple of months. You can cut your cost by 5x and save time from going shopping since it only takes 30 minutes to make. 

It makes sense being 2 miles from Quality Seafood market at Redondo Beach Pier to experiment with all the dishes the sea has to offer. One of my faves is cajun-style crawfish - with a Vietnamese flair. 

Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 15 min
Number of servings: 1

Ingredients:

• 100g (3.5oz.) chicken thigh (optional - you can replace or omit)
• 50g (1.7oz.) onion
• (A) 60ml Dashi broth 
• (A) 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• (A) 1 tbsp. Mirin (sweet Sake)
• (A) 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley)

​
NOTE: You can substitute 1 tbsp. of Mirin with 1 tsp. of sugar (which means you need 2 tsp. of sugar for this recipe)

​Directions:
1. Cut chicken into small pieces. Slice onion. Cut Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley) into an inch long pieces.
2. Mix (A) very well. Beat eggs in a bowl.
3. Put (A) in a frying pan and bring to a boil. Add chicken and onions, then cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink.
4. Pour in the beaten egg from the center to the edges of the pan (because the center cooks slowly). Add Mitsuba, cover, and turn off the heat after a few seconds when the eggs are half-cooked (or as you prefer).
5. Serve over rice in a bowl. Sprinkle with Shichimi Togarashi (optional).

This week I purchased a package of 9 frozen Mahi Mahi filets at our local Torrance Costco. I figured $30 for nine meals would put each filet at about $3.35 each. Total COGs including existing veggies, sauces and condiments in the fridge, put each meal at about $6. With my new, one big meal-a-day program, the remainder cost of nuts, fruits, granola and my daily jug of almond milk puts the weeks' total at about $50.

I still have 4 filets to prepare. Here is what I've planned: Mahi Mahi Ceviche, Thai Coconut Curry with Mahi Mahi, Cantonese-Style Steamed Mahi Mahi Filet with Ginger & Scallions and Mahi Mahi Fish Salad Sandwich on Toasted Brioche Bun. 

What do you think? What would you make? Which other ideas do you have?!