Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Kim mentioned yesterday on our "giggle chat" that we've all taken a significant break on this blog, so we've probably all accumulated some more good recipes to share. I agree, and I couldn't help but post this one very first because we just ate them and they are too stinkin good not to share!! I am first of all not making any claims to these being healthy. But they are easy and DELICIOUS. It says to let cool completely before serving, but we can't help but cut into them while they're still warm and soft, preferably with a cold glass of milk. Sort of like a warm apple crisp or something. While I'm sure it would work well for a dessert, we like it for a snack :). Then we can enjoy it again later when they are completely cooled, and firmed up more. Basically I'll eat them in any way I can. I got the recipe from my favorite Pioneer Woman, on her food network episode I looked up online. It makes your house smell so good too! Who doesn't love the combo of oatmeal, butter and brown sugar? :)

Ingredients:
1 3/4 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
One 10-12 ounce jar strawberry preserves

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 x 13 inch rectangular pan.

Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. I just have the butter a little bit soft and use my pastry blender to cut it into the mixture. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. I usually end up doing a little more than half, maybe closer to 2/3. I think it's more important to have a solid layer on the bottom. Spread the strawberry preserves (or any kind of preserves/jam you like) on top of that. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, 30-40 minutes.

 For the "preserves" this is what I always use, just because it's what we buy and have on hand. You can substitute a variety of flavors and kinds, I'm sure it would all work great.

Whole Grain Oat Bran Muffins

A.K.A. Muffins of deliciousness and health.

And hello, why hasn't anyone slapped our wrists?! It has been over a year since the last recipe post! But because of our recent discoveries of delicious healthy recipes, we've been wanting to share them, and have been meaning to post them here for you all to enjoy. And then as I was sitting down to type this up I get a text from Lindsay asking for the recipe for said Muffins of Deliciousness and Health. Without further ado, the muffins!

Serves 12
1 cup all-purpose flour (we traded ours for whole wheat, and it just makes it a bit more dense. Still delish!)
3/4 cup uncooked old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup fat-free milk
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 egg substitute (we just use an egg, but if you have a substitute you prefer...)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup snipped dried figs or dried apricots (if you want, we never add fruit)

Also, if you're feeling crazy and awesome, we always add flax seed and oat bran, about a 1/3 cup each per recipe.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray or use paper bake cups.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, wheat germ, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center.

In another medium bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients except the fruit. Stir into the well just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy.

Fold in the fruit. Spoon into muffin cups.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for 5 minutes.

And let me just tell you, you can eat them a billion ways! We take them to campus plain as a regular muffin, Tom loves to eat them with peanut butter and honey or jam like a sandwich, and I love the honey and jam sans peanut butter myself. We tend to bake them in groups of 68...and then freeze them for easy grab-and-go food.

Italian Cheese Loaf

I made this for a ward recipe exchange and everyone loved it! Sorry no pic.

Italian Cheese Loaf

Ingredients:
1 loaf (1 lb.) French bread
2 c. diced fresh tomatoes
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. grated Romano cheese
1/4 c. chopped ripe olives
1/4 c. Italian salad dressing
1 tsp. chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano

Directions:
1. Cut top half off loaf of bread; set aside. Carefully hollow out bottom of loaf, leaving a 1/2 in. shell (discard removed bread or let the kids gobble it up!).
2. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; mix well. Spoon into bread shell; replace top. Wrap in foil. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice and service warm.
Yield: 12 servings

Notes:
- I didn't have the fresh basil or oregano so I just used the dry spice, however you call that form of it. :)
- You can get creative with this. I've heard of people doing french bread pizza for an after school snack. Same idea as this, you just top it with some sauce and cheese and whatever your kids like (pepperoni, olives, etc.), broil it for a bit, and you've got a fun quick little pizza.
- I can't tell a difference between grated romano and grated parmesan. There probably is, but I'm sure grated parmesan works great too if that's all you have on hand.

GRANOLA

I got this recipe at a ward recipe exchange. Lately it's a favorite snack of mine and I'll tell you why. Lately I feel like I'm constantly eating and yet since giving birth 6 1/2 weeks ago I think there's only been one time that I wasn't hungry and it lasted all of about 20 minutes! I guess that's what happens when you're nursing every two hours on the dot! This granola is filling, somewhat healthy, and SO good.

Lynette's Granola

3 1/2 c. oats
1 1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. wheat germ
1 1/4 c. nuts (slivered almonds preferred)
Mix together in large bowl.
In separate bowl mix:
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Mix and pour over oats mixture.
Bake at 325F for 10 min. Flip and cook til all brown (about 20 min. for me).
Scrape off pan immediately into bowl and add 1 c. craisins.

I'm sure this would be great with other typical granola ingredients (sunflower seeds, etc) but I haven't experimented yet. It's great by itself or with milk or yogurt.
Although the nuts are kinda pricy, this is still way cheaper than buying granola or than buying other cereals/snacks. Especially if you buy the oats in a 50 lb. bag like I do. And of course the sweet milk isn't the healthiest but I figure I'm still getting lots of good protein and fiber from the other ingredients. Just a warning, this may not be the last granola recipe I post. Enjoy!!

Picture to come later...