3 Ingredient Treat

I am a huge Wheaties fan.  Probably my favorite cereal, well Banana Nut Crunch, Golden Grahams and Clusters might beat it out but anyway, you get the picture.  So when I saw this recipe, I quickly added Wheaties to my shopping list.  These look fabulous!  And all you do is mix together melted butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and Wheaties, then freeze.  Genius!

See link here.  

Easy Homemade Maple Syrup

This recipe seems too good to be true.  I keep passing up the real Vermont maple syrup in the food store since it is more expensive.  We typically buy lite syrup but the first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup, followed by preservatives and artificial flavors.  How can that be good for anyone?!  Then I stumbled upon this recipe so I am going to give it a try.

Source: The Frugal Girls 

1 C water
1 C sugar
1 t maple extract

• Bring water and sugar to slow boil over low heat, stirring continually.
• Remove from heat before it comes to a rolling boil.
• Stir in maple extract as it is cooling.
• Serve warm. 

Oatmeal Mondays

I'm speechless :)

See why here. 

Healthy Banana Pancakes Update

My husband made these for Sunday breakfast and they were outstanding when served alongside quartered strawberries, dripping with warm honey, and slathered with peanut butter. 

  
Next time though I think we'll experiment with the ratios a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I love their light, delicate structure but they do tend to dissolve in your mouth.  For instance, adding more ground oats and nuts would add texture and make them more substantial and cakey.  I would consider substituting Greek yogurt and some oil for an egg, especially when doubling the recipe since it seemed like a lot of eggs (4).  Along with the nuts and oats, this might give them more texture and beefiness too.  If you are vegan, you may want to consider adding chia seeds or ground flaxseed meal in place of all the eggs.

*Cooks Note: These are all just brainstormed ideas.  I have not tested them out yet so use caution!

Overall, I love these pancakes.  When doubling the recipe, you get 18 silver dollar sized pancakes, which was just enough for my husband and me.     

Cake Fridays

Cake + cream cheese filling + chocolate frosting = completely blissful cupcakes for any occasion

Click here for the recipe.

Healthy Banana Pancakes

2 eggs
1 banana
1/2 C oats
1/4 C applesauce
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t cinnamon

Blend oats in magic bullet until ground.  Add other ingredients.  Mix until blended.  Cook on buttered pan and enjoy :)

What could be easier than this 6 ingredient recipe for flavorful, nutritious pancakes?  Jot this down on a piece of paper and store it in an easily accessible place in your kitchen.  That way you'll be ready and one step ahead when the kids ask, "What's for breakfast?"    

Source: Completerecipes.com

Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Cake

I love this idea!  Looks pretty simple too.  The best part is it encompasses two beloved childhood treats: cupcakes and ice cream in a cone.  It's a win win for everyone :)

Source: Life in the Lofthouse

Cookies I've been wanting to make since Christmas!

I've had these orange creamsicle cookies in the back of my mind ever since I saw the recipe on Pinterest.  I almost made them for a cookie exchange, but they didn't seem like the ideal cold weather cookie.

I love orange flavored anything and adore creamsicles so these were a no brainer.  They bake up perfectly after 9 minutes in the oven.  They are the perfect springtime treat!

 See recipe here. 

PB and Banana Breakfast Bake

I highly encourage you to make this!  It is a quick breakfast option for kids or double the recipe and feed the whole family.  This light cake with rich peanut butter running through it is made with milk and banana instead of oil and eggs, creating a moist masterpiece.  Cinnamon and vanilla add sweetness without the use of sugar.  With a base of quick oats and flaxseed, you'll feel good about feeding your family this morning "treat."  It is a wholesome option for all to enjoy and trust me, you'll be making it again and again :)

Cake Fridays

Blueberry Muffin and Buttermilk Pancakes Cake

If you like nutmeg and blueberry together, you are going to love this cake.  It is a great breakfast cake, snack cake, or after dinner dessert.  I like mine with a sliced banana and Greek yogurt (surprise, surprise!) on top.  Moist from the buttermilk and sour cream, this is a simple, satisfying cake with minimal ingredients and prep work.  My family and I absolutely adore this cake and I'm sure yours will too :)

See the recipe here. 

Chocolate Crunch Cherry Almond Muffins

1 C flour
Fill another cup measure with a combination of wheat germ, ground flaxseed and quick oats (or just add another cup of flour)
2/3 C sugar
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 C chopped dried cherries

Mix in large bowl.  Set aside.

2 eggs
3/4 C buttermiilk
1 stick melted and cooled unsalted butter
1 t almond extract

Combine in small bowl and whisk well.  Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine.  Crush chocolate cookies of choice (I used Trader Joe's Chocolatey Cat Cookies).  Drop batter into 15 greased muffin cups and sprinkle each muffin top with 1 t crushed chocolate cookies.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.  Turn muffins out and cool completely on wire racks.  Enjoy at room temperature with butter or warm muffins up in microwave and serve with vanilla ice cream :)  

Oatmeal Mondays

Ginger Mango Toasted Coconut Baked Oatmeal

1 mango, peeled and diced
1/2 C unsweetened coconut flakes
1 t ginger
2 C oats
1 beaten egg
1 1/2 C milk

Combine all ingredients in bowl.  Pour into greased 8x8 Pyrex and bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.  Serve warm with sliced banana or pineapple chunks over top and a healthy dollop of Greek yogurt.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter

This peanut/cashew butter is AMAZING!  I made it with unsalted peanuts and it turned out great.  Put your food processor to work today and make this delicious spread.  I'm even considering making some muffins and dolloping a teaspoon or two on top before baking.  Yum :)

See recipe here.  

Cake Fridays

It's all about hearts in our household lately.  I feel like we're back to celebrating Valentine's Day!  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  The kids are into drawing hearts, making food into heart shapes, and calling out whenever there is a heart siting in a book, on a card, etc.  So I wanted to share this lovely idea for adding some hearts to your next batch of cupcakes.  Are they cupcakes or are they brownies?  You be the judge.  But anyway you look at them, they are happily delicious! 

Heart Brownie Cupcakes 

Source: Betty Crocker

I box fudge brownie mix +additional ingredients

1-2 T 10X sugar

Make brownie batter as directed on box.  Fill 24 paper lined cupcake cups with about 2 level measuring tablespoons of batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Do not over bake.  Cool in pan 20 minutes.  Carefully remove paper baking cups from cupcakes; cool upside down about 15 minutes or until completely cool.  Cut small heart out of paper.  Place on bottom of cupcake.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Carefully remove heart.  Repeat with remaining cupcakes.     

Tiger's Eye Brownies

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to make these brownies.  Being a peanut butter fanatic, especially when it comes to peanut butter chips, these simple treats totally appealed to me.

While baking, they smell so divine and when you bite into those whole chocolate chips, the combination of chocolate and peanut butter sends your taste buds soaring.  The texture is perfect; these brownies are crispy on the outside while being moist and chewy on the inside.

I'm so glad I finally made these because I discovered yet another Gooseberry Patch recipe that I absolutely adore :)

See link here.  

 

Chobani Conversion Chart

I have been using this chart a lot lately.  I feared substituting non fat Greek yogurt for butter and oil in baked goods would result in a dry product but it actually creates moist masterpieces.  It's not only a super food, but a real powerhouse when it comes to knocking out fat and calories in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.  I feel like Chobani should be paying me for endorsing their product! 



Source: Pinterest
 

Avocado Hummus

What better way to use up avocados from Costco than to transform them into hummus?!  I am a huge fan of hummus, especially Trader Joe's Cilantro Jalapeno flavor.  It is so incredibly delicious but since I didn't have time to go to the store yesterday, I whipped up a version I saw on Pinterest.

Follow the pictures below and prepare to do some heavy duty dipping!

Oatmeal Mondays

Oatmeal Parfaits to spice up that sometimes drab bowl of plain oats:

1/2 C cooked old fashioned oats, divided
1/2 C Greek yogurt, divided
1/2-1 C fruit of choice, divided
Favorite tall glass

Layer 1/2 oats, 1/2 Greek yogurt, 1/2 fruit of choice.  Repeat.  If you're feeling adventurous, sprinkle the top of your parfait with chia seeds for added crunch.  Enjoy!  

Chocolate Avocado Banana Pudding

A new kind of pudding that is super healthy and delicious.  My daughter can't get enough!

 

Slightly adapted from Edible Perspective

1 banana, mashed
1 avocado, mashed
2 T cocoa powder
dash vanilla extract and cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in resealable container.  Chill in fridge and enjoy for up to 3 days.  Dip strawberries, graham crackers, anything you'd like in it! 

Cake Fridays

I have a confession to make.  I did not make a cake this week but only because my husband brought home a huge sheet tray of brownies for his birthday.  But, I did find an amazing site to post some cake ideas.  Ideas that I will definitely put into action and make one day.  The only problem is choosing which one to bake!  Veggie and The Beast has quickly become one of my new favorite blogs.  I'm sure you can see why after gazing at the pictures and studying the recipes.  Stunning and simply marvelous :)   

Raspberry Cornbread Layer Cake

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Blueberry Cream Cheese Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Peanut Butter Crumb Coffee Cake

Big Ginger Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake

 

 

 

Brown Sugar Brownie Bars

I had such a craving for these bars but wanted to healthify them.  Is that even a word?!  Oh well. 

Here goes:


Brown Sugar Brownie Bars
Slightly adapted from Dear Crissy

1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract
1 small banana, mashed
1/4 C melted butter, cooled a bit

Combine in large bowl.

1/2 t salt
1 t baking powder
1 1/3 C white whole wheat flour
3/4 C semi sweet chocolate chips

Combine in small bowl.  Add to large bowl and stir to combine.  Pour into 9x9 greased brownie pan and smooth with spatula.  Bake 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees.  Enjoy with a glass of milk :)  

Breakfast and Lunch

I made these for my kids today:


Breakfast


Lunch

I hope they enjoy these kicked up quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches!