Banana Oat Snack Cake

Alright, you can judge me. Yes, I served this cake for breakfast. I figured it was close enough to banana bread. The kids liked it. It is moist and taste very similar to banana bread. My husband liked it. He prefers banana bread but he said it needed less oats. I had even decreased the oats from the original recipe. I think the oats would have tasted better toasted but I liked the recipe. It did make a nice breakfast and the kids didn't complain.

Banana Oat Snack Cake
6 oz. unsalted butter
1 cup old fashion oats
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 ripe banana, smashed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave for 1 minute. Set aside. 
4. In a large bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. 
6. Mix the melted butter into the brown sugar mixture. Whisk together until incorporated.
7. Add the bananas and mix well. 
8. Add the sugar mixture to the flour mixture. Whisk until incorporated.
9. Add the batter to the prepared dish.
10. Bake the cake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
11. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

One year ago...........................I made Basil and Tomato Pasta.
Two years ago.........................I made Corn Salsa.
Three years ago.......................I made Mussels.

Did you already know......................
-Since 7,000 B.C., ancient China have been eating oats.
-The ancient Greeks were the first known to make porridge from oats.
-In the U.S., 75% households have oatmeal in their kitchen.

Oatmeal Batter Bread

Yesterday, the ground hog saw his shadow. When I told my husband how we are going to have 6 more weeks of winter, he said we always do. We do live in Maine after all. Now, my children love winter. They put on all their winter gear and head outside to play. I actually think they play outside more in the winter than the summer. When their cousins visit, all four kids head outside. They make a snowman one week then the next week they destroy him. Today, I have scattered piles of snowman all over the yard. I would rather stay inside during this time of year. One of the best ways to warm the house is to bake some bread.

Oatmeal Batter Bread
5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup ground oats flour
2 (1/4 oz.) envelopes of quick rising yeast
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup butter
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp salt
2 large eggs

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cup all purpose flour, oat flour, yeast, and sugar. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the water and butter to 100 degrees F. 
3. Add the butter mixture to the flour and mix until incorporated.
4. Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, quick cooking oats, salt, and the eggs. Mix until incorporated.
5. Add the remaining flour and mix until a soft dough forms. (More flour may be needed if the dough is too sticky.)
6. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. 
7. Allow the dough to rise for 40 minutes or until double in size.
8. Divide the dough into 2 greased 1 1/2 quart souffle dishes.
9. Allow the dough to rise for another 30 minutes uncovered.
10. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
11. Bake the bread for 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
12. Remove the bread from the oven and pan. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

McCall cooking school cookbook

One year ago.................................I made Cookie Dough Cupcakes.
Two years ago...............................I made Buttermilk Corn Bread.

Did you already know....................
-In 1891, Quaker Oats became the first company to feature recipes on its products.
-The first flavored instant oatmeal was Maple and Brown Sugar.
-The trademark man on the Quaker Oats box is known as Larry.

Apple Crisp

Sometimes it is hard to come up with a spooky names for my dishes. So, I take suggestions from the kids. This dish was named by my son. I thought it was pretty clever. I would never have thought of it. Grave dirt? Would you like some ice cream with that grave dirt? My husband said it was the best apple crisp (grave dirt) he has ever had.

Grave Dirt aka Apple Crisp 
6 apples, peeled and sliced thinly
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup uncooked rolled oats
1/3 cup all purpose flour
4 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly coat 3 small ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Spoon the apple mixture equally into the ramekins.
5. In the same bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, and flour. 
6. Blend the butter into the brown sugar mixture until well incorporated.
7. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the ramekins.
8. Bake the apple crisp for 30 minutes or until the apples are tender and the streusel is crispy. 
9. Allow the apple crisp to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Chow.

One year ago............................I made Mace Crumb Muffins.
Two years ago..........................I made Cheesy Basil Stuffed Chicken.

Did you already know..............
-Embalming meant to put on balm.
-Perfume and spices were once an ordinary ritual to use on decaying bodies. 
-In the U.S, funeral services industry make $11 billion in revenue every year. 

Jubilation Granola Chews

Have you ever purchased a box of those chewy granola bars? These Jubilation Granola Chews are soft and chewy like those bars but much better. We really loved this recipe.  I think I will be making this recipe before any trip.

This weeks Project Pastry Queen was picked by Amanda of Homekeeping Adventures. The other great thing about this recipe is if you don't have almonds use walnuts. You can vary the ingredients with whatever you have on hand. Please make sure to check out the other members variations of this recipe. After I made the recipe, I individually wrapped each one for a quick snack to go.

Jubilation Granola Chews
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup golden flax seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. On a baking sheet, toast the oatmeal for about 8 to 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, add the toasted oatmeal and set aside.
4. On the same baking sheet previously used, add the nuts, coconut, sunflower, and flax seeds.
5. Toast the nut mixture in the oven for about 7 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
6. Add the mixture to the oatmeal bowl. Set aside.
7. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray.
8. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, and water.
9. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a bowl.
10. Reduce the heat to medium heat and simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes until the mixture reaches around 234 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
11. Stir in the butter, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla.
12. After combining, add the honey mixture to the oatmeal bowl and stir to combine.
13. Pour the mixture into the greased 9x13 baking pan.
14. Evenly press the mixture into the pan using a sheet of wax paper.
15. Allow the mixture to cool for about 1 hour.
16. Cut the bars in about 4 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch bars.

Recipe adapted from Pastry Queen cookbook. 

Did you already know...
-In 1930, three cranberry growers formed Ocean Spray.
-The companies first product sold was jellied cranberry sauce.
-Cranisins were first introduced in 1993.