Blueberry Oatmeal

Recently, I went to Maine. Yes, there was snow still on the ground. Yes, I saw family. Yes, I ate way too much chocolate. So, I decided I needed to eat a little healthier and exercise just a little more. I decided to try this oatmeal recipe. I liked it. I didn't add any sugar to the oatmeal for sweetness. I figured I would rather have the sugar in my ice tea. However, my children added sugar to their oatmeal. They liked it and would eat it again but with sugar. With a serving of fruit, this recipe is a great way to start the day. I love the purple color.

Blueberry Oatmeal
2 cup water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 apple, chopped
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Directions: 

1. In a medium saucepan, mix the water, vanilla, and cinnamon.
2. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
3. Stir in the oatmeal and allow to bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in the blueberries and allow to cook for 1 minute.
5. Turn off the heat and cover.
6. Allow the oatmeal to sit for 15 minutes. The mixture should be thick and creamy.

Recipe adapted from Dr. Fuhrman's site.

One year ago.......................I made Lemon Cream Cookies.
Two years ago.....................I made Baps Breakfast Sandwich.
Three years ago...................I made Sand dollar Cookie.

Did you already know..........
-Blueberries are native to North America. 
-Maine produces the most wild blueberries.
-During the Civil War, wild blueberries were canned and shipped to the Union troops.

Baked Oatmeal

I received a bag of oats in my farm share. It wasn't a small bag. It was a bag of oats. What was I going to do with a bag of oats? I read if I put them into a food processor and pulse about 4 times then I would make quick cooking oats since they would be a little smaller in size. I figured I would make some oatmeal with it. I will disclose my children are not the biggest fan of oatmeal so they weren't very enthusiastic about this breakfast. They said they didn't like it. They stirred in more milk since they want their oatmeal creamy. Did this surprise me? No but I liked it. My husband loves oatmeal and he liked it so I figured I would share. It is an easy recipe and great for a cold morning.

Dotty's Baked Oatmeal
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup sugar
3 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
Optional: grated apple, cinnamon, or nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray. 
3. In a medium bowl, mix the oil, eggs, and sugar.
4. Add the oats, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
5. Stir in the milk and optional ingredients.
6. Pour into the baking dish and bake for about 35 minutes. The oatmeal should be golden brown and firm to the touch.
7. Serve immediately with fresh fruit and additional milk. 

Recipe adapted from The Ultimate Bread and Baking Book by Linda Collister & Anthony Blake.

One year ago.................................I made World Peace Cookies.
Two years ago...............................I made Banana Bread.

Did you already know....................
-January is Oatmeal Month.
-Oats are a whole grain since they usually still contain their bran and germ.
-To get a quicker cooking oats, the oats are steamed and flatten more.

Peanut butter Nutella Oatmeal

I am always surprised with the request my children make. My oldest daughter woke up and wanted oatmeal. Oatmeal? No one ever asks for oatmeal. Waffles, eggs, or pizza are the most popular request. My favorite is cereal. I'm still trying to make it for supper but no takers. Well, my two youngest children said they don't like oatmeal. My oldest likes instant only. I haven't purchased instant for years since no one ate it. I told my oldest that I only had the old fashion kind. She informed me that it was too much work. So, I decided to make her oatmeal. I saw this great recipe but I changed it up since I didn't have a lot of strawberries left. Strawberries somehow disappear in my house. After I made this oatmeal, my two youngest children loved it. My oldest daughter said that she just wanted plain. I can't please everyone but it is nice to know that I can serve oatmeal more often.

Peanut Butter Nutella Oatmeal
3 cups milk (I used skim)
1 cup water
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 cups old fashion oats
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp brown sugar

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and water. Bring to a simmer an then reduce to medium-low. Stir often to make sure the milk doesn't scorch.
In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the oats to the skillet and toast for about 2 minutes.
Stir in the toasted oats into the heated milk. Allow to simmer gently until the mixture is thick. It will take about 20 minutes. 
Stir in the salt and brown sugar. Allow the oatmeal to continue to simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed and the oatmeal is creamy.
Stir in the peanut butter and Nutella.
Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats.

One year ago..............................I made the very cool Agent P sandwich.

Did you already know................
-Quaker Old Fashion Oats are whole oats which have been rolled to flatten them into flakes.
-Quick Quaker Oats are Old Fashion Oats which have been cut into smaller pieces.
-Steel Oats are whole oats which have been cut into thirds.

Wild Berry-Oatmeal Cheesecake Muffins

While I was outside performing some yard work, I noticed some leaves that had already begun to fall. It is not autumn yet. We still have at least a month before the beautiful autumn foliage is in full bloom. So, I started to think I should rebel. I really should show these trees a lesson. I was thinking about how I could accomplish this task like taking some sap and tacking the leaves back onto the trees? Just as I was having these thoughts, an acorn smacked me on the head. Don't worry-I haven't done it yet. I didn't want to embarrass my neighbors. My family already know I lost it.

Since the beginning of school is fast approaching, I wanted to try new types of muffins. I did realize that I make muffins more than I make cookies. I know my husband wished it was the other way around but muffins are great. I can serve them for breakfast and a snack. If I'm really tired, I offer them for a quick dinner but no one has gone for it yet. 

Wild Berry-Oatmeal Cheesecake Muffins
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup buttermilk
8 oz. low fat cream cheese (Neufchatel cheese), softened
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh berries (I used blackberries and strawberries)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
3. In a small bowl, combine the oats and buttermilk. Set aside for about 15 minutes.
4. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together. 
5. Add the lemon zest to the sugared cream cheese. Set aside.
6. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
7. To the oat buttermilk, add the egg and the butter. Mix well.
8. Add the oat mixture to the the flour mixture. Stir until moistened.
9. Gently fold in the berries.
10. Fill each paper liner half way with the batter. 
11. Top the batter with a scant Tbsp of the cream cheese mixture. 
12. Cover the cream cheese mixture with the remaining batter.
13. Bake the muffins for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Recipe adapted from Food & Family Fall 2012 magazine.

Cream Cheese Filling

Did you already know...
-In America, Maine is the most heavily forested state.
-Maine's land base is 90% growing trees.
-Maine has over 50 native types of trees.

Oatmeal Crisps

When I first saw this recipe, I thought these would be like circular cookies. I actually like they are in bar form. These cookies are so good. I prefer oatmeal cookies with no chocolate so I did the same thing. The other thing I did was replace the corn syrup with agave syrup. It is a preference thing.

This week's pick for Project Pastry Queen was picked by Missy of Creative Missy. I will be making these crisps again. My husband would not stop eating them. I had to hide these four crisp to take a photo of them.

Oatmeal Crisps
1/2 cup butter, unsalted
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tbsp agave syrup 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. With cooking spray, grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, brown sugar, and agave syrup about 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth.
4. Add the oats, baking powder, salt, and coconut. 
5. Stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
6. Press the ingredients evenly into the greased 9 x 13 pan.
7. Bake the crisps for about 20 minutes.
8. Remove and allow the mixture to cool for 20 minutes.
9. In the pan, cut the crisps down the middle vertically. Then cut the crisps horizontally to make the crisps.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook.

Did you already know...
- Corn syrup is a natural sweetener made from corn.
-Corn syrup and sugar have the same amount of calories.
-The USFDA list corn syrup safe to use in food since 1983.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

My son was telling me about his writing journal at school. He was writing about recess and playing on the monkey bars. He asked how to spell monkey. I told him that he should already know how to spell his first name. He said my name isn't monkey. I teasingly asked if he was sure. Then I taught him how to spell monkey and to sound out bars which he spelled bowls (I guess he spells it with an accent). After a few minutes, I asked my son how to spell his first name and he said "m-o-n-k-e-y-s" and started laughing. He is quick. I love his sense of humor. Isn't he so much fun? 

We are very lucky and have a wonderful bus driver.  On occasion, he has to wait for us in the morning as we run to catch the bus. Mornings are not the best time of day in my household. How about yours? One day we made it to the bus and my son was carrying his shoes. Why he didn't have them on? I don't know. 

Since Mr. Keith is so great, I make him cookies as a thank you. So my children ask him what type of cookie "we" (which translates to me) should make him, Mr. Keith requests this cookie. His favorite cookies are peanut butter and oatmeal raisin. He had the wonderful idea of putting his favorite cookies together. I hope you enjoy these soft peanut butter oatmeal cookies.

Yes, these have raisins since Mr. Keith likes raisins plus no one eats them.

Mr. Keith's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of salted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of raisins (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the peanut butter, butter, and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Add in the flour and salt. Mix to combine.
5. Gently stir in the oatmeal (and raisins) until incorporated.
6. Scoop onto a cookie sheet about 3 to 4 inches apart since the cookies will flatten.
7. Bake about 10-12 minutes.
8. Let the cookies cool on the hot tray for about 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

 3 Blind Mice for Halloween.. Aren't they creepy?

To make the creature. I omitted the raisins except for the two for the eyes. I added several sliced almonds for two ears and one tail. After the cookies were in the oven for 8 minutes, I pulled the tray out. With the back of a spoon, I pushed in the sides of the cookies to shape them. I put the tray back into the oven for about 3 more minutes. I removed the tray from the oven and reshaped the cookies. I let the cookies cool on the tray for 2 minutes. I transferred to a wire rack to finish cooling.

 Did you already know.......
-Peanuts are not a nut. Peanuts are legumes and grow underground. 
-Peanut plants first grew in South America.
-Both President Thomas Jefferson and President Jimmy Carter grew peanuts.
-One 12-ounce jar of peanut butter contains about 540 peanuts.
-In the United States, peanut butter must contain at least 90 % peanuts.