FAST Microwave Oatmeal

I used to buy those little packets of oatmeal in the store and tear them open, dump them in a bowl, add water, and then throw them in the microwave.  Many times the water I added would be too much and it would overflow the bowl.  I finally realized that I could just make this myself for SO much cheaper (especially since I had a 25 pound bag of oats to use up!)

I make my oatmeal in the microwave because it's fast and easy.  I'm busy in the mornings. It keeps me full until lunch (especially if I eat a banana on the side) and it's just over 100 calories (breakdown at the end).

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Quick Oats

1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon-Sugar (or just cinnamon, if you wish)

1 Tablespoon Honey (I actually was comparing online on My Fitness Pal and using brown sugar is less calories because you don't need as much of it. I use 2 teaspoons of brown sugar as a replacement for honey.)

Small handful of crasins

1/2 cup water

I keep the baking stuff all in one cupboard, so I don't have to open and close a bunch of cupboards.

 Sprinkle cinnamon on top of oats.

 Add honey or brown sugar. (I don't actually measure.  That takes too long and dirties dishes.)

 Throw in some crasins (or raisins, coconut, almonds, apple pieces, whatever you like in your oatmeal.)

 Measure 1/2 cup of water and pour it in on top (then put it right back in the drawer because it only had water on it.)

 I don't even stir it before putting it in the microwave for one minute on high. (Use that minute to put on makeup or take care of something else.)

Unstirred straight out of the microwave.

 When it comes out it's still a little runny, so if you have something else to do for two or three minutes, now is the perfect time.

Many times, I make this just after I get out of the shower when I'm still in my robe and go get dressed while it cooks.
Nicely thickened, just the way I like.  If you add milk or anything else, do it now.

 Now is also when my toddler comes over and tries to make me share my breakfast.

YUM!
1/4 cup Oatmeal 37 calories
1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon 1 calorie
1 Tablespoon Honey 64 calories (or 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar 30 calories)
1/12 cup Crasins 33 calories
1/2 cup Water  0 calories

Oatmeal with Honey option = 135 Calories
Oatmeal with Brown Sugar option = 101 Calories
 

German Chocolate Oatmeal

Pinterest is so good at sharing healthy food and exercise ideas right next to treats that are full of way too much stuff that's delicious, but not super good FOR you.  

I keep seeing pictures of this and this and so many others while I'm starting to count calories and am weaning myself from so much sugar and treats.  I'd look for more yummy treats, but I can't eat any more food tonight, so I'd better stop!

Here was my solution to this problem.  I tried this recipe for microwave blueberry oatmeal (like cake in a cup, but healthy) and had to make it over a little.  I added some coconut and chocolate chips.  It was so good and filling because of the oatmeal.  

I'd like to say that this was just as good as the other treats that I'd still love to eat, but wouldn't be able to control myself, but it's not.  It IS good, but it was probably 'just enough' sugar when I'm still accustomed to too much sugar.

Here's what I did:

Put these ingredients right into a mug:

1/4 cup Quick Oats 

1 Egg 

1 Tablespoon Chocolate Chips

1 Tablespoon Coconut

1 teaspoon Honey (or brown sugar)

1 Tablespoon Milk

Microwave that for two minutes and it's done.  

I tried a recipe with Hershey's Chocolate syrup just after this one, but it didn't work out quite like I hoped.  I might revisit that idea another time.  Maybe Chocolate syrup instead of chocolate chips and in place of the honey and milk???

Double Oat Breakfast Cookies

I found this recipe the day one of my friends asked if I wanted to go on a morning hike and eat breakfast at the top of a hill around us. I just tried it out and they are so good. Try them and see for yourself. Someone is so smart to combine something we all love with another meal that makes it easy to eat and fast. Now, I don't have to feel so bad about eating cookies in the morning.

Ingredients
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup Smooth Peanut Butter
1-1/4 cups Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspooon Salt
1/4 cup Water
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1-1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Rolled Oats
1 cup Golden Raisins and/or Milk Chocolate Pieces (I used Mini Chocolate Chips and Crasins)
3 cups Round Toasted Oat Cereal (such as Cherrios)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in water, egg, and vanilla until combined. Beat in flour until combined. Beat in as much of the rolled oats as you can with mixer. Stir in any remaining rolled oats. Stir in raisins and oat cereal.
Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart onto an ungreased (I greased mine) cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Store cookies in tightly covered container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Makes 24 (2-cookie) servings.
Recipe found on Better Homes and Gardens website or in their September 2009 issue.

Homemade Granola Bars

I'm looking for cheap and easy ways to snack (healthy too!) This recipe is great, especially with the substitutions. I just need to buy some mini chocolate chips for next time so they stretch farther. I used chocolate chips and crasins.

Easy Granola Bars
Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour (or ground whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter, softened — or substitute applesauce
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips or raisins, crasins, nuts

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Lightly grease one 9×13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.
I think the recipe would be even better with 1/4 cup Karo Syrup too. They are a little dry, but still good.
This recipe came from this site. Food Storage Made Easy.net

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My sister, Janessa, made these earlier this week and I just had to try them out! They are SO good! Moist, chewy, and delicious (except for a few that got a little too browned-Elizabeth liked those ones though.)
She got the recipe from this site:
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
6 Tablespoons Butter (softened)
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Large Egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Regular Oatmeal (not quick oats)
2 cups Chocolate Chips
2 Bananas, cut into 1/4 to 1/3 inch pieces (or mush them up like I do in ziplock baggies and freeze. Defrost in microwave when you need them)

Instructions:
Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside. (I never do this. I just add it in one at a time after the butters and sugars and eggs are mixed-FYI.)
Mix the butter (I bought REAL butter for the first time!) with the sugars until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla until well mixed. Add flour mixture. Add oatmeal, chocolate chips, and bananas. Mix well. I use a KitchenAid, so I added the chocolate chips last. The mixer doesn't like them much, but I do.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes on a GREASED cookie sheet.
The recipe says it makes 60 cookies, but it's more like 36 cookies.

Chocolate PB Oatmeal Cookies

I made up my own recipe today for some cookies to take to a girl who has been keeping Vincent busy during swimming lessons. She takes him out to the grass and follows him around making sure he doesn't eat the rocks and sticks he likes to pick up and doesn't let him go into the pool. She really deserves some cookies! These have just about everything. I decided to use some cooked white beans again as a substitute for butter to see if they worked here. They really do.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Cooked White Beans (boil dry white beans until soft and then add them to recipe instead of butter. You don't have to mash them. The mixer does that. You can measure them out in 1/2 cup increments and freeze them in snack size sandwich bags. Just thaw in fridge or microwave 40-60 seconds and they are good to go.)
1/2 cup Shortening
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 cup Peanut Butter
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 cup Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Oatmeal

Instructions:
Mix beans, shortening, and sugars with peanut butter until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth and a little fluffy. Add in dry ingredients and mix until oatmeal is covered with the chocolate cookie dough.
Place on greased cookie sheet (just in case). These don't spread out much. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Let cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before moving to cooling rack.