Recipe: Breakfast Oatmeal Cupcakes

Jason told me to get him some "breakfast stuff" for the mornings before work to try to dispell a recent donut problem. The real problem...Jason doesn't like breakfast food.

Jason: Can you pick me up some breakfast stuff for the mornings?

Me: What do you want? You don't like cereal, hot oatmeal, yogurt. You don't like breakfast food...

Jason: (interrupts) I like pancakes and bacon.

So, there you go. Problem solved...as long as I make him pancakes and bacon every day, we are Good. To. Go. Yeah, good luck with that one, babe.

I found this recipe and thought it was worth a shot for "breakfast stuff". As always, I made some adjustments. :)

My Recipe:

Preheat oven to 380 degrees. Line 24 baking cups in a cupcake tin.

• 5 cups old-fashioned oats (I used half old-fashioned, half sprouted oats)
• 4 ripe bananas
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (any nut butter will work)
• 1/8 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups water (may be a little more or less, basically to soak the oats)
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 4 Tbsp flax meal (soak in 4 Tbsp water) 
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds 

Mix all wet ingredients (bananas, peanut butter, coconut oil, vanilla, flax meal), except for water. Mix all dry ingredients (oats, coconut, choc chips, salt, chia seeds). Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add water to fully soak the oats. (It should look like a banana bread batter). Scoop into baking cups and then bake for 20-24 minutes.

You can eat right away, refrigerate or freeze. They are super yummy after 15-20 seconds in the microwave.

Now, the real test...

SUCCESS!!!

Some changes I will make for the next time:

• No oil
• Use 1/2 cup almond butter instead of peanut butter
• Add dried blueberries or cranberries

These were soooo easy to make and tasty too!!

Anyone else have a delicious and healthy breakfast recipe to share?

Five Favorites {2}

Linking up with Hallie for my Five Favorites this week.

1. This past weekend, our son was baptized at our church. It was such a special day! He was baptized by our parish priest. He also presided at our wedding and when my husband joined the church earlier this year. I've known him as long as I've lived here, almost 12 years, so it was so special to have him baptize our son! (Check out his sweet ponytail!) Ted's baptism outfit was adorable! I didn't want a three piece suit for an infant and I couldn't find a gown that I really liked that was gender neutral. A friend told me about her son's romper that was Irish linen. I googled it and found this. It was perfect! I love that it is simple and I love the St. Brigid cross on the collar. We will definitely keep this in our family for many years to come.

2. We've been researching cameras and we finally decided to buy this one. We bought it just in time for Ted's baptism. It has been really fun learning how to use it. I love how great the pictures are! Jason is pretty excited about it and likes being artsy with his picture taking. Can you tell?

3. I've never been a dieter. We try to eat healthy, but I could never adopt a diet like Paleo. Mostly because I LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches. I'm pretty sure no bread and cheese allowed. I did come across this delicious recipe. I'd call it "Zucchini Bruschetta". It was delicious and super easy to make. Slice zucchini in a pan. Put sliced tomatoes on top. I drizzled it with balsalmic, olive oil and minced garlic. Add mozzarella or parmesan and bake for 30-40 minutes. Seriously amazing!

4. Some of my favorite girls from Iowa and I started a traveling journal about 10 years ago. Sadly, our first one got lost in the mail. :( We started a new one about 6 months ago and it FINALLY made it's way to me! When we started it, we were all in different states I think. Iowa, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and maybe New York? Now, four are in Iowa, one in Minnesota and one in Arizona. I am so excited to start writing in this! I keep hearing the music from the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants in my head. I love that we do this and it's just one more way we try to stay connected.

5. This little guy has had a cold for the past few days. The cold is obviously not a favorite, but these snuggles are for sure!

Happy Friday everyone!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

These cookies are delicious.

I don't really think I have a problem with my milk supply. I mean...do these cheeks look deprived?

A friend of mine sent me this recipe so I thought I would try it. I love cookies, especially if I can pass them off as "healthy cookies". 

I asked Delia from Delia's Kitchen to help me change the recipe up so it would be a little more healthy. She has some really scrumptious recipes that I have tried and they have all been a hit.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies from Food.com

Ingredients (substitutions in parenthesis)
1 cup butter (organic)
1 cup sugar (1/2 cup organic cane sugar)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (1/2 cup sucanat)**
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs (organic)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour (1 cup whole wheat, 1 cup regular)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats (organic)
1 cup chocolate chips2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast

(2 tablespoons chia seeds)

I love chia seeds...I try adding them to everything!

**This time I did not have any Sucanat, so I did 1/4 cup dark brown sugar and 1 ripe banana**
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3. Beat butter, sugar and brown sugar well.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla and mix well.
6. Sift together flour, brewer's yeast, baking soda and salt (and chia seeds).
7. Add flour mix to butter mix.
8. Stir in oats and chips.
9. Scoop onto baking sheet.
10. Bake for 12 minutes. ***
11. Let set for several minutes, then remove from tray.

***I only baked mine for 9 minutes.***

Yields about 4 1/2 dozen cookies.

Hope you enjoy!!

Have you ever made any lactation treats?