Fruity Baked Oatmeal

I came about this recipe searching for a crockpot oatmeal recipe.  I found several but all of them said that the oatmeal burned if it cooked past 5 hours.  I don't have a programmable crockpot so I won't be doing crockpot oatmeal anytime soon.

Fortunately, instead, I found this great recipe on Taste of Home's website.  You can view the recipe on their website here.  I was afraid that this recipe would result in a dense gummy oatmeal but it was suprisingly light.  I think the baking powder keeps it from becoming dense.  It is a little dry but I think that makes it perfect for topping with milk.  The leftovers were delicious as well.  The second time I made it I cut back a little on the butter and brown sugar by about 1/3 and I didn't see a noticeable difference.


Fruity Baked Oatmeal

3c quick cooking oates
1c brown sugar
2t baking powder
1t salt
1/2t cinnamon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1c milk
1 stick butter melted
3/4 c chopped, peeled apple
1/3c chopped peaches
1/3c blueberries

In a large bowl combine the first 5 ingredients.  Add the next 3 and mix well.  Add the fruit and pour into a 8 inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 35-40 mins or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Double Chocolate Filled Strawberries

I get several emails from Kraft with recipes.  One of them has diabetic friendly recipes and that is where I found this little gem.  You can go here to see the recipe posted on their website.  I was looking for a low sugar dessert for Easter that everyone would like.  My boys love strawberries so this looked like a great choice.  We gobbled them up and then I had to buy more strawberries to make more!  You could defintely play with the pudding flavor used in this recipe to change it up too.  I may leave the cream cheese out next time too.  It was such a little amount added that I don't think it would make much of a difference.

Double Chocolate Filled Strawberries

2lbs strawberries
1/4c of 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1c cold milk
1 pkg of sugar free white chocolate pudding
1c sugar free cool whip
1/4 of a chocolate bar or mini chocolate chips

Wash and dry berries.  Cut the stems off and cut an "X" in the end of the strawberries and spread it open to hold the filling. Whisk the cream cheese and a 1/4 of the milk together until well blended.  Whisk in the remaining milk and pudding mix.  Stir in cool whip and fill a ziploc bag with the filling.  Cut of a corner of the bag to create a small opening.  Pipe the mixture into the strawberries.  If you have any filling leftover, just keep it in the fridge till you get more strawberries!  Melt the chocolate bar in a ziploc bag in the microwave.  Just for a few seconds or you will melt your bag!  Cut a corner of to create a small opening to drizzle chocolate over the strawberries.  The second time I made this I just topped the strawberries with mini chocolate chips.  Refrigerate the strawberries till ready to serve.

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread

Sometimes you just can't improve on an original.....sometimes you can!  Add chocolate chips and peanut butter to banana bread and it gets better!   Don't get me wrong, I love just plain ol' banana bread too.  This is a great, just a little bit different, version of an original.  This recipe from Pampered Chef is a great bread to give and freeze too!  Bake up a loaf!!

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread

2c AP flour
1c sugar
1T baking powder
1/2t salt
1 c mashed ripe bananas (about 2)
1/3c milk
1/3c peanut butter
3T oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1c milk chocolate chips (I've used semi sweet too)
1/3c chopped peanuts (optional for top)

Preheat oven to 350 and spray loaf pan with cooking spray.  Combine all of the ingredients down through the egg.  Mix just until moistened then add 3/4c of the chocolate chips.  Spoon batter into pan and top with remaining chocolate chips and chopped peanuts.  Bake 1hr or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 mins then remove from pan to a cooling rack.

I've also cooked this in 3 mini loaf pans for 35 mins.