Strawberry Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate

 

 

Strawberry Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate  Rating: 10

Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please.  This is a real treat, especially with all those ripe, red strawberries this summer. My kids ask for seconds which almost never happens.  It tastes awesome but I am sure they are doing it because they are just that excited that mom has put chocolate chips in their breakfast.

I don't layer it all up like the recipe calls for.  I just put my bananas slices on the bottom of the greased pan and dump all the mixed up dry ingredients on top.  I add about 1/4 cup more strawberries.  Okay, I double it every time and use about 2 1/2 cups or so instead of 2 cups.  I really like the Chinese five spice in it. I use almond milk in place of regular milk and demerara sugar in place of brown sugar. I usually use dark in place of semi-sweet as well.  Very versatile and forgiving so have fun.

I cut out individual servings every morning and just heat in the microwave for 1 minute.  No need to add syrup.  I just drizzle a little almond milk on top to soften it up.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Walnuts and Pomegranates

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Walnuts and Pomegranates  Rating: 9

I make this for breakfast about every other week.  When it comes out of the oven, I let it cool, slap some plastic wrap on top and stick it in the fridge.  During busy weekday mornings, I cut the rubbery bake, crumble it into bowls, pour a dash of almond milk on top and a drizzle of maple syrup and nuke it in the microwave for just over a minute.  Then I take a huge handful of pomegranate arils (okay, maybe two huge handfuls) and mix them in.  Divine.

Neal and I got a great bargain on pomegranates through our produce co-op and got a box.  We were glutton for punishment because removing the arils from the pomegranates is no simple task.  Very time consuming.  But we have loads of quart size freezer bags brimming with them and readily available for dishes like this and yes, the antioxidant-happy arils make the dish.

Whole Wheat English Muffins

Whole Wheat English Muffins  Rating: 8

These were pretty good and filling. Neal made them and we'd do it again. Still, we continue to search for a recipe that will provide that sine qua non characteristic of nooks and crannies.


 

 

Fried Egg, Roasted Red Pepper, and Spinach Breakfast Sandwich  Rating: 8

 



This sandwich was a nice start for the day and and easy way to get veggies in before you even leave the house.  Initially, Keri sauteed the spinach with some minced garlic and that was really nice too. 

Fresh Cranberry Orange Scones

Fresh Cranberry Orange Scones  Rating:7

What's an English Tea without freshly baked scones?  Well, I wouldn't have a clue, honestly.  But these made a nice meal with spinach scrambled eggs on the side.  They were fine plain and best out of the oven.  Not amazing but okay to good.  I think I'll keep looking for a similar recipe.  They were sweet but needed a bolder cranberry orange pop in my opinion.

Brown Rice Breakfast

Brown Rice Breakfast  Rating: 8

No picture because every time I make this it is morning, the kids want to be fed, and I am looking at this bowl of yumminess thinking, "that looks so comforting" and the picture idea flies out the window.  Having said that, this recipe is easy, delicious, a great way to use up leftover brown rice, and a terrific whole grain option for breakfast besides our usual oatmeal.  If you don't like oatmeal because it's too gloppy for you, then this is a good place to start.

I use less than half of the sweetener called for and am happy.  I use almond milk rather than soy. I have used both almonds and walnuts with great results but prefer the harder crunch of the almonds.  Very filling, so stick with the portions suggested for the most part.

Summer Squash and Swiss Chard Quiche with Brown Rice Crust

Zucchini and Swiss Chard Quiche with Brown Rice Crust Rating: 8

The quiche was inspired by this tart but I used another recipe and added most of her fillers in. I also opted for a brown rice crust that I saw used at Closet Cooking.

Brown Rice Crust  Rating: 8

First we made the crust. It is super easy--three ingredients. Just switch up the 1/4 cup grated cheese to whatever type you are using in the quiche.  It is a nice whole grain option that is quick and provides a nice base.  Great way to use up leftover rice.

Basic Quiche  Rating: 8

I used this recipe but altered it to 3 eggs and 1 1/2 cups half and half to accommodate approximately 3 cups of yummy add-ins as one commenter suggested.  I used 3 oz. each of cheddar and mozzarella cheese.  In a bit of olive oil I sauteed up two medium Mexican gray squash, very thinly sliced, and a bunch of Swiss chard, chopped, with 3 large cloves of garlic, minced, and approximately 2 tsp. each of fresh thyme and rosemary, chopped.  I baked it 5 minutes longer than recommended with great results.

It was really good and I think a nice splash of lemon or a spoonful of salsa on top would be nice too.  It did well for leftovers the next day for lunch.  Served it up with hummus and veggies.

Sweet Potato, Carrot, and Dried Fruit Casserole

Sweet Potato, Carrot, and Dried Fruit Casserole  Rating: 8

The house smelled like Thanksgiving this morning.  I put this together last night, turned on the oven before I left on my run, and when I got back I just slipped it into the hot oven.  The most involved part of this was dicing the ingredients and it wasn't too time consuming.  Besides, my compost will love all those peelings.

It tasted really good with that nice, not-too-sweet syrup of OJ, honey, and spices.  It makes 8 servings and I would just like to remind myself and anyone else that just because it tastes good and is healthy does not mean you should have more than a serving.  It has apples, dried plums, and dried apricots.  It will likely blow out your colon if you do not respect the recommended portion.  So have breakfast for a week or share.

Multi-Grain Waffles

This week is Watermelon Seed Spitting Week so we had fun with the theme.  When I was planning on celebrating this week, I found this cute idea at Random Thoughts of a Supermom and knew I'd be making them--for dinner, no less!

Multi-Grain Waffles  Rating: 9

For a waffle that is made with whole wheat flour, amoung other grains, and not loaded in butter, this is top notch.  I use corn meal instead of wheat germ.  On this occasion I used food coloring a chocolate chips to mimic seeds.  You don't have to.  But with the latter, why wouldn't you?! 

Anyway, I've doubled this recipe before and freezed them as they suggested for a quick breakfast option and they did great, an 8 maybe.

Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Bake

Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Bake Rating: 9

We buy a load of fresh cranberries when they are in season and freeze them to enjoy throughout the year. This smells like Christmas while it's baking with all that apple and warm cinnamon. If you don't care for traditioanlly prepared oatmeal, baked oatmeal is a different take that may bet you eating this healthy grain. The texture is different and there is a bunch of other yumminess mixed in. Give it a go.

We also enjoy Blackberries and Coconut Oatmeal Bake and blackberries season is nearly over so get them while you can.  So now you have an Oatmeal bake for summer and winter to enjoy.

Juevos Rancheros

Juevos Rancheros  Rating: 9

Juevos Rancheros is Mexican comfort food at its best.  This is just a layering of Not Refried Beans (below), Rick Bayless' Corn Tortillas, grated cheese, a fried egg, and salsa (store bought).  Using two corn tortillas is too much food but his recipe is so good we can't help ourselves.  We were able to use yet more of our home canned pinto beans in this simple recipe.

Not Refried Beans  Rating: 9

You can use store bought or home canned beans for this.  Reserve 1/3 of the beans and place the other 2/3 in a food processor with blade attachment.  Toss in any combination of salt, onion powder, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, or taco seasoning until it is seasoned as you like and puree it until smooth.  Add a bit of water or vegetable stock as you go until you get the consistency you prefer.  Remove to a bowl and stir in the whole beans for a chunkier texture.

Tofu Breakfast Sandwich

Tofu Breakfast Sandwich  Rating: 9

After making the Lemony Chickpea Stir Fry we had leftover Savory Baked Tofu and threw this together in the a.m. before going in our different directions.

Toasted pumpernickel, smashed avocado with a sprinkle of salt and a dash of lemon juice, savory baked tofu, and fresh spinach.

What really makes this sandwich is, of course, the avocado.  It took the savory baked tofu on its own from a 7 to a solid 9.  It makes this tofu sandwich seem decadent.  Hooray for healthy fats!  And look a protein to start your day and 3 veggies!--if you count tofu (soy bean) and avocado (a fruit) as veggies.  And today I do.

I can also imagine the tofu being a nice replacement for the egg in the Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwich.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal  Rating: 8

This is a quick breakfast with lots of fall flavor.  I add about a 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin puree to a 1/2 cup (dried) serving of oatmeal.  Sometimes I get crazy and add more.  I usually use water to cook the oatmeal but enjoy almond milk too. I toss in ground ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a splash of vanilla extract.  I also add about a Tbsp. or more of freshly ground flax seeds.  Once is in the bowl I top it with pure maple syrup and give it a stir.  It is a very filling breakfast.

I've made this repeatedly and enjoy the kicks I get out of slipping a veggie into breakfast.

Fried Eggs on Sweet Potato Hash Browns

 Fried Eggs on Sweet Potato Hash Browns  Rating: 8

My baby went to the farmer's market this past weekend and picked up some fresh grown yumminess, including asparagus and sweet potatoes.  He has a friend at work that generously shares her hens eggs with us.  Farm fresh eggs are amazing!  And just look how pretty those blue ones are--gorgeous!

We had this for dinner tonight.  I doubled the garlic in the hash browns and they came out great.  We just topped them with fried eggs for protein and enjoyed a side of steamed asparagus sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.  Pretty fast and pretty good.

Banana Nut Oatmeal

Banana Nut Oatmeal  Rating: 10

I made this three days in a row it was so yummy.  Just throw 1/2 cup dry rolled oats, one half to one whole very ripe banana mashed, 1 cup water, and 3 Tbsp. flax meal into the pot over medium high heat and stir until it is to your desired consistency.  Take it off the heat and stir in a bit of vanilla extract.  Plop it in a bowl and top with chopped walnuts and a glug of maple syrup.  Quick and yummy.

Apple Dutch Baby with Green Chiles -- How Texans Celebrate Pancake Day!

Today is Pancake Day and I decided to make a Apple Dutch Baby, also known as a German pancake, for the first time.  It's good to shake things up every now and then.  I even went with a spiced up version to push my boundaries on spiciness since I often fear it.

Apple Dutch Baby with Green Chiles  Rating: 10

Why hasn't anyone told me about Dutch Babies?!  It's times like these I realize my mother never loved me. (Just kidding, Mom!--if you ever read this, which is unlikely...sniff, sniff)  Before I go and set up that counseling appointment, let me finish...

It was so yum!  Rich, warm heat, apple cinnamon syrupiness (I just made that word), like a giant pancake of love.  The sweet and spicy combo was great. I was so pleased with myself for using the jalapeno (and not obsessively cutting out the hot membranes).  Would do it again in a jiffy (except for the part when I touched my face even hours after handling the peppers -- yikes! Lesson learned).  I even forgot to give it a squeeze of lemon before shoveling it into my mouth.  I know that would have been a nice touch but it will have to wait for next time.

It was beautiful coming out of the oven but started to fall even as I was sprinkling (pouring?) on the powdered sugar, which was expected.  This was an easy recipe that had a good showman factor for company. 

My kids even ate it happily but they both mentioned the heat from the chile.  Sophie upon almost finishing her second serving said, "It's a little bit spicy." and Rhys at the end of his second serving, touched his mouth and announced, "Ow."

I did make changes: 3 Tbsp. instead of 4 Tbsp. of butter, 3 Tbsp. demerara sugar instead of 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon instead of 1/4 tsp., whole wheat flour instead of all purpose.  I used the Granny Smith apples and they were perfect for this.  You could use Rome or any firm-tart apple though.

I hear you can refrigerate the pancake and reheat it in the oven for 10-15 minutes but haven't tried it.  Now that I know about Dutch Babies, it would be hard not to gobble it up as soon as it left the oven anyway.

Can't wait to see what other variations I can try in the future.

Whole Wheat Biscuits with Sausage Gravy and Heather's Vegetarian Chili

Our family had fun giving our own salute to the annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Sam Bass Days this weekend.  As part of the celebration we started the day with a chuck wagon breakfast.

Whole Wheat Biscuits  Rating: 7

Sausage Gravy  Rating: 8

It was not as rich feeling as the fattier version with white flour and pork sausage but it was a good substitution.

That evening we continued the cowboy theme with Heather's Vegetarian Chili.  This comes from our friend, Heather Lindeman, and we use it often. 

Heather's Vegetarian Chili  Rating: 10

Ingredients
1 tsp. vegetable oil (we use grapeseed)
1 med. onoin, chopped (1/2 cup) (we have also used rehydrated onion flakes successfully)
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 sm. zucchini, jullieaned (we just chop it)
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 15oz. cans chili beans with liquid
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 cup water (may not be necessary, check consistency before adding)

We also add 2 finely chopped kale leaves

Method
1. Heat oil and saute all veggies.
2. Stir in beans, tomatoes, and seasonings.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low.
4. Simmer 20 minutes.

It's easy, quick, and just the right spiciness for Keri and the kids. Neal likes to add a little more heat to his individual bowl.  We sometimes top ours with a dallop of sour cream.

Basil Chocolate Chip Pancakes

It is National Pancake Week!  How about a more sophisticated pancake to celebrate?  These sound odd to some but the flavor combination is delicious and a happy wake up call for the mouth.  Herbs such as lavendar, rosemary, mint, and here, basil, are often paired with sweets.  These pancakes should be a safe place to start if you are unsure about venturing out.

I first saw the idea at Simply Scratch.  But I am much to lazy to make her pancakes so I just do my thing.

Basil Chocolate Chip Pancakes  Rating: 10

2 cups Go-To Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
1 egg, beaten
1 Tbsp. oil (I usually use grape seed or coconut)
1 1/2-2 cups milk, depending on the consistency you like
2 Tbsp.(or more) fresh basil, chopped
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, less even

Cook them up on the griddle over medium heat and enjoy with pure maple syrup.  Makes about 10 pancakes depending on the size.  Two 4 inch pancakes are a hearty serving in my book.

Other possible choices to celebrate National Pancake Week:
Aloha Panckes
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Fresh Corn Pancakes
Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Enjoy!

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Carrot Cake Pancakes  Rating: 9

Ingredients
2 cups Go-To Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
1 1/2 - 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger powder
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp. oil (I've used coconut or grapeseed)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. orange zest
2 cups carrots, grated, finer is better

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Combine wet ingredients in medium bowl and pour into dry ingredient.  Stir until just combined.  This will make a thick batter.  Get your griddle ready on medium heat and grease it with yummy coconut oil.  Use 1/4 cup scoop to pour on pan and sort of spread it out thin so they will cook evenly in the middle.  The batter will need your help to spread out.  I just use the bottom of the 1/4 cup measure.  They take a bit longer to cook than most pancakes I've made so flip when you see the right signs--bubbling, dry edge, proper browning on the bottom, and adjust your heat as needed.  They make dense, fat pancakes and are completely gratifying with just pure maple syrup.  Makes 10-12 pancakes.

Two is a perfect serving to me and you can pop the leftovers in the toaster when you are ready for them.  They're dessert for breakfast and a great way to sneak some veggies in before you even start the day.

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes  Rating: 9

There are so many poppy seeds in these  pancakes, I dare not take a drug test thereafter!  They taste so fresh.  I prize them topped with a light drizzle of lemon juice and lightly sweetened sliced fresh strawberries.  Good morning to me!  Neal, when given a listing of pancake options will often choose these.

We used whole wheat flour, raw sugar, and oiled the pan with olive oil spray.  Don't skimp on the lemon zest!  You can use the juice from those lemons to make your buttermilk (2 Tbsp. lemon juice then pour enough milk in the same measuring cup to level to 2 cups, wait 5 minutes, use), drizzle over the pancakes, and flavor your water for the rest of the day!

Enjoy and don't forget to brush your teeth afterwards!

Aloha Pancakes

Good Morning from Hawaii!  Okay, I've never been but I put this together using the ingredients that one typically thinks of when picturing somewhere tropical and slapped the trite title of "Aloha" on it to strengthen the stereotype.  Yeah me!

Aloha Pancakes (makes 10 4-5" pancakes)  Rating: 8

2 cups Go-To Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
1 egg
1.5 cups milk (or to desired consistency once all the other stuff is added)
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/2-1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (reserve pineapple juice), even more awesome with fresh pineapple
1/8 cup coconut, shredded/flaked, unsweetened
sliced bananas

Get the griddle heated up to medium and grease with a bit of coconut oil.  Use 1/4 cup measure to pour out pancakes on griddle.  Drop heat to medium-low.  And if you don't know the rest watch a youtube video or something.  There is help for you.  I even watched a video on how to properly mop a floor and my family is happier for it.  God bless youtube.

Once plated drizzle a bit of the reserved pineapple juice on them and top with sliced bananas.  You can add a touch of maple syrup too if you like it sweeter.  I did. 

Okay, well, I'm off to my first surfing lesson.  Okay, not really, but my hands will get wet doing the dishes!