Healthy Hearty Breakfast

The best part are the add your own toppings. Brown sugar, cinnamon, dried fruit, and fresh fruit are delicious on hot oatmeal. 

Here is an easy and delicious recipe for Baked Oatmeal that is a winner at our house.  The best part is you make it the night before, refrigerate and pop it in the oven first thing in the morning and it makes the house smell amazing as it is baking. Refrigerate individual servings in containers to warm up easily for the next couple of mornings for quick an healthy start to the day before work, school, the gym or running errands.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 3 cups quick cooking oats, 1/2 cup raisins, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.  Lightly grease an 8 x 8 pan.

*This recipe serves 8 but if you are having a larger crowd, double the recipe and use an 11 x 14 baking dish lightly sprayed with cooking spray of your choice. If doubling recipe, use 1 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar.....

Beat together oil and sugar.  Mix in eggs, milk, salt, baking powder, and oatmeal.  Beat well, then stir in raisins.  Pour into lightly greased pie pan, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. (I sometimes use a store bought cinnamon/sugar blend from the spice aisle..)  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees, uncover and bake in oven until firm....about 35 minutes.  Serve hot.  Serve it up with fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries!  Yum!

For a healthier alternative, applesauce in place of the oil works great too!

                                                    

Easy Breakfast for Weekend Guests

Photos courtesy of Echoes of Laughter.com

When we are entertaining for the weekend, I always love shortcuts that will allow me time to enjoy the company of our friends and family.  Now that cooler weather has arrived, we welcome heartier meals that are comforting foods.  Set up a "Make it Yourself Oatmeal Bar" and let everyone choose their own toppings.  

Slow Cooker Oatmeal 

This recipe will make 10 servings and slow cooks all night .

Ingredients:  1 2/3 cups steel cut oats, 5 3/4 cups water, 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon raisins, 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon butter, 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 3/4 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Place the steel cut oats, water, raisins, butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract into the slow cooker and stir to combine and dissolve the sugar.  Cover the slow cooker, set to low and cook for 8 hours.  This will give you a soft texture oatmeal.  

* 1 2/3 cups peeled and chopped apples can be added for a delicious flavor

A few of my favorite topping choices are dried fruit,  chopped nuts, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup.  If you like bananas as much as I do,  this is a must try.

Top your oatmeal with sliced bananas, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon on top and drizzle honey over for a sweet taste.  What do you think?

Happy Weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Easy make your own breakfast this weekend

B.A.S.

Set up a self serve "make your own yogurt " bar for overnight guests this weekend.

Simply set out bowls, spoons, fruits and individual bags of granola for a quick breakfast so you can get out and enjoy the day. 

1)  Choose your yogurt (Greek or non Greek). 

Plain, vanilla, strawberry, peach, blueberry

What's your favorite?

2)  Blend with any or all of the following: Pineapple chunks, halved strawberries, blueberries

3)  Top with:  Banana slices, dried cranberries,  coconut flakes, and/or cinnamon

4)  Sprinkle and mix in your granola. Our favorite is udisgranola. Check it out in cranberry, vanilla, original or Au Naturel.  And it is all Gluten Free!!...

Enjoy and have a great weekend