Chewy Honey Oatmeal Cookies

My collection of recipes I feel are relatively 'safe' to eat is getting bigger and it makes me more comfortable with the lifestyle of no refined sugars. It is hard to change to that in this world we live in. There is so much crap added to everything that sometimes it is hard to tell and I am thinking that's why it is important to pray over your food. :)

Here is one that the kids loved. And so did I. I used dark chocolate chips which are not technically 'no refined sugars', but I can read all the ingredients on the package and know what they are. These would be really good with raisins though and I will try that next time I make them.

Chewy Honey Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 C butter, softened
3/4 C honey
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 C oats- I used old fashioned rolled oats
1 C whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 C dark chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter and honey. Add the egg and vanilla mixing until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and then stir in the chocolate chips.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are golden brown. Remove from the overn and let them cool on the pan for about 2 minutes. Then cool on a rack.

Optional alternative: add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 C raisins in place of the chocolate chips for oatmeal raisin cookies!

Overnight Oats

Our breakfast of choice the last week has been this recipe for overnight oats. It is packed with healthy goodness. I tried it first with jsut regular rolled oats and it tasted a little gritty to me so I got the thickest rolled oats I could find. They were in the bulk section at our grocery store. And it solved the problem. We have tried this lots of ways and every way has been really good. My favorite so far is the Almond Mango.

Overnight Oats
1/2 C thick rolled oats
1/2 C plain yogurt
2/3 C milk- we used almond milk
1 T chia seeds

Mix all ingredients in a wide mouth pint sized jar and put in the fridge overnight. You can also put the extras in the night before or the morning.

Variations-
Almond mango- Add 1/2 c fresh mango, dash of almond extract, 1 tsp honey
Vanilla triple berry- 1/2 c frozen triple berries, contents of 1/2 vanilla bean scraped, 1 tsp honey
Blueberry cream- 1/2 C blueberries, 1 tsp agave
Banana maple nut granola- 1/4 c maple nut granola, 1/2 banana, chopped, 1 tsp agave

The possibilities are endless!

Peanut butter chocolate chip chewy granola bars

The other day, while picking up my high school daughter and some of her friends one of those friends gave her a chewy granola bar. She took a bite and declared that it tasted 'chemical' but she was hungry and ate it anyway. When she said that I remembered that I had copied off several chewy granola bar recipes from a website and there determined I would make her some. I made them last night and I am pretty sure I dreamed about them. :) She found them this morning and has eaten three already. I can honestly declare that these granola bars are rub-all-over-your-face good! I am going to have to double the recipe next time.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars

4 T butter
1/4 C packed brown sugar
1/4 C honey
1/4 C peanut butter
2 C old fashioned oats
1 C crisp rice cereal
1/4 C semisweet mini chocolate chips

Line an 8x8 pan with foil.
Combine honey and butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in the brown sugar when the butter starts to melt and bring mixture to a boil. Boil and then lower the hear and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Add the peanut butter and mix in until smooth. Remove from the heat.
Add the oats and crisp rice cereal and fold them in until evenly coated.
Quickly fold in the chocolate chips and then press into the pan.
Let sit for 15-20 minutes to set and then cut. If you need it to hurry along put them in the fridge for about 5-10 minutes to cool down.

Maple Nut granola

My friend emailed me looking for a granola recipe and I realized that I didn't have my favorite basic recipe posted here. So here she is in all her yummy maple nutty goodness!!!

Maple Nut Granola
5 C rolled oats
1 C sliced almonds
1 C chopped pecans
1/2 c flax seed
1/2 c pumpkin seed
1 C wheat germ
1 C coconut oil
3/4 C honey
3/4 C maple syrup
1 C raisins
1 C dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients. In a saucepan add oil, honey and syrup until it is warm and well incorporated. Pour liquid over dry ingredients and mix well. Spread on two large cookie sheets. Bake for 20 minutes until oats and nuts are toasted. Let stand on trays until cooled. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake Oatmeal

O.K.!!! This was so yummy I wanted a second serving even though my stomach was full. One thing is for sure- Oatmeal fills your belly. I made two servings and shared with Matt. I want to make it for my oatmeal hating daughter and see if she would like it, because she LOVES cheesecake. You have got to try this one!

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake Oatmeal

1/2 C rolled oats
1/2 C water
1/2 C skim milk
pinch of salt
1/2 banana
1 tsp vanilla
1 T wheat germ
1 tsp agave, heaping
1 T cream cheese, heaping
1/4-1/2 C strawberries

In saucepan cook oats, milk, water, and salt. When it simmers add banana stirring until it breaks down and gets thick. Take off heat and add vanilla, 1/2 strawberries, agave, wheat germ and cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese is melted in. Top with remaining strawberries and enjoy! Serves 1

Banana Flax Oatmeal

I stumbled across a website where they were having a 30 day oatmeal challenge. There are a load of great oatmeal recipes. Check them out here.

I am especially excited to make the Raspberry Swirl cheesecake Oatmeal tomorrow. Here is my version of the Banana Flax one.

Banana Flax Oatmeal with Walnuts

1/2 C rolled oats
1/2 C water
1/2 C almond milk
1/2 banana, cut in pieces
pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 T flax seed
1 tsp agave nectar
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
walnuts pieces

In saucepan heat oats, water, milk and salt until it simmers. Add the banana and stir until the mixture thickens. Add the vanilla, flax, agave, pie spice, and stir until incorporated.
Pour in bowl and top with walnuts and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Oatmeal Cake

This morning there was an insane amount of oatmeal left after breakfast was said and done. Having three sick kids that didn't eat probably was the reason. And one of the healthy ones can't stand oatmeal. SO I scoured allrecipes and found a recipe that I altered a bit to fit the need of prepared oatmeal and what resulted was this hearty, comfort cake that I want to eat all of!
Go here for the original recipe or enjoy my version!

Oatmeal Cake
2 C prepared oatmeal
1/2 C butter
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 C flour- I did 1 c wheat, 1/2 c white
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c craisins

Cream together butter and sugars. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the oatmeal and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients. Stir in the raisins and craisins. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.
I think I will add pecans next time. It is really good with out any frosting but would be great with cream cheese frosting too!

Peanut Butter Granola

Yesterday I was re-immersing myself into the foodie blog world again and I came across this recipe. I decided to try it for breakfast and am so glad I did. If you click on the recipe title it will take you to the blog I lifted it from. My husband loved it and one of the kids tried it and really liked it too. It was the child that hates Oatmeal Tuesdays- so now I will give her the choice of granola or oatmeal. I will definitely make this one again and again and again.....

Peanut Butter Granola Cereal

• 5 cups rolled oats- I used Bob's Red Mill 5 grain cereal
  
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup flax seed
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
2. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
3. Heat coconut oil, honey, and peanut butter on medium heat until smooth.
4. Evenly pour honey mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until completely combines
5. Spread mixture over two large cookie sheets.
   

Bake for 20 minutes until oats and nuts are toasted. Let stand until cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

TWD: Chunky Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters

It Tuesdays with Dorie- YAY!!! Today was a great recipe that went together quickly and baked up perfectly. There was A LOT of cookie dough here so I froze half of it for later and can't wait to try it again in a month or so.

I did make some changes to the recipe. I used all whole wheat flour instead of white, creamy peanut butter instead of chunky, and I used organic sugar in place of white sugar. I will definitely be putting this one in my favorites file to use again and again!

Note: No cookies were harmed in the construction of this delectable tower!

Honey Oatmeal Muffins

These are a good and healthy alternative to regular muffins. They are not very sweet though. So if you are expecting sweetness you'll need to put something in the middle of them- like Nutella (my new favorite)!!!
Honey Oatmeal Muffins
- Makes 12 muffins -

Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions
Combine oats, flours, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and soda; mix well. Beat eggs, honey, milk and oil together; mix well. Pour honey mixture over dry ingredients; mix only until moistened. Spoon into oiled muffin tins. Bake at 375°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Protein: 5 g Fat Total: 6.5 g Sodium: 178 mg Carbohydrates: 26 g Calories from Fat: 32% Cholesterol: 36 mg Calories: 179 Dietary Fiber: 2.5 g

Banana BlueberryMuffins- no refined sugars!

This is one of my favorite healthy muffins. The flavors are BEST the day after you make them.

Banana Blueberry Muffins

2 banana's mashed

2 lg egg whites

3/4 c frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate, thawed or 3/4 c honey

2 c whole wheat flour(I do half white, half wheat)

1/2 c rolled oats

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 c butter- melted

1 c blueberries- unsweetened

Beat banana's til smooth add egg whites and beat until frothy. Add apple juice or honey and mix well. Add flour, oats, baking powder and soda and mix. Add melted butter and beat well. Gently fold in blueberries. Makes 16 muffins. Bake 325 for 25-30 minutes.

Banana Cranberry Oat Cookies- No refined sugars!

I have been reading up on refined sugars and how bad they are for us. Plus I figured out that I am allergic to refined sugars(they make me fat!). So this recipe is pretty darn good for having no refined sugar in it. It's sweetness comes from pineapple juice concentrate and honey. Let me know what you think!

Banana Cranberry Oat Cookies

1 C white flour

1 C whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 C olive oil

1/4 C pineapple juice concentrate

1/4 C honey

2 lg egg whites

1 C mashed banana

1 tsp vanilla

2 C quick oats

1/2 C chopped pecans

1/2 C craisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oil, egg, juice, honey, bananas, and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oats until well blended. Stir in craisins and nuts. Bake for 10-12 minutes. These cookies probably taste even better the next day once the flavors have a chance to mix, but the kids were eating them like crazy straight from the oven.

Oat Bread

This recipe comes from allrecipes. It makes the house smell wonderful while it bakes. Light Oat Bread

1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons margarine
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine pan in order recommended by your manufacturer. I did dough cycle and then took out and let rise again in a bread pan. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes in the oven.

Nutter Butters

I made these cookies for Sunday afternoon and they were gone within an hour or so. The kids LOVED them and so did Matt!

Nutter Butters

Cookies:
1/2 c shortening(I used butterflavored crisco)
2/3 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
3 T peanut butter
1/2 C old fashioned oats
1 c flour

Filling:
1/2 C peanut butter
3/4 C powdered sugar (this needs to be 1/2 c because I had to add milk to get the filling to stick together enough to put in the cookies)

Preheat oven to 325
In large bowl cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, salt, and peanut butter and beat well. Put the oats in a blender and blend until it is oat flour (I forgot this step and so we just had regualar oats in the cookies and they turned out great). Add oats and flour and blend well. Roll dough in 1 in balls and place on cookie sheet flattening with the back of a cup. Bake for 8 to 10 min or until edges start to brown.
While cookies bake mix filling. Once cookies are cooled put the filling in the cookies and enjoy! They are super yummy!