Early morning pick-me-up

One of my favorite things to do is wake up early to exercise. However, one of the only ways I'll do that is if I am required to be somewhere. I was up at 7:45 this morning for a dance rehearsal in Midtown. I can't even think about eating that early, much less before rehearsal. So I take the dog out get my gear on and head to The Broadway Dance Center.
Let me also make note of the 54 degree rainy day we are having. And the fact that i left my only umbrella at a West Village restaurant this weekend on a wine fueled Saturday night outing. Anyway, rehearsal was great. I never dance anymore, but grew up dancing for 13 years. I love it.
My typical notion on a dreary day is to make a comfy breakfast of bacon, eggs, and potatoes. And I have all of those things. But today I pull some other standards from my kitchen to make a lighter, equally sunny, yogurt parfait.
I use non-fat Greek yogurt and decide to mix in a seasonal ingredient, pumpkin butter. This makes it a rich golden color and sweetens the tart yogurt. I top it off with a handful of some home made granola (recipe below) and enjoy it with a piping hot cup of "Holiday" coffee from Porto Rico Imports. I make my coffee in a french press and use 3 level tbls of freshly ground coffee and 16oz of water. Make sure you keep the grind coarse so that you don't get muddy coffee.
I hope you enjoy this quick and simple breakfast idea. Here's a hint:top the hot from-the-oven granola onto your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt. You'll be hooked.

Granola:
2 cups rolled oat and grain mix (oats, barley, rye, etc)
1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup dried fruit ( i use cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and raisins)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp Chinese 5 spice
1/4 tsp vanilla
salt
Honey

Mix all dry ingredients leaving 1/2 of the fruit aside and drizzle with honey, coating oats evenly but not too thick. spread evenly onto a aluminum foil lined and greased cookie sheet. sprinkle with salt and bake at 350 turning after 10 min. At this point add the remaining fruit and drizzle with a little more honey. continue baking until golden, about 10 more min.