Pumpkin Oatmeal

This is really good!  I know, I think I start alot of my posts out like that, but it's the truth!  :)

It's PUMPKIN season, so of course it's good!  :)  I actually had some canned pumpkin from last year, so I used that.  Yes, it was still good!  ;)

I added pumpkin, raisins, walnuts and a pumpkin pie spice to this oatmeal!  My kids ALLLLL asked for seconds!!!!  :)  I also used steel cut oats, so it took a bit longer to cook, but you can EASILY use regular oats, or quick cooking oats...  ;)

Pumpkin Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut oats

2-3 cups water

Pumpkin puree

pumpkin pie spice

raisins

walnuts


Cut steel cut oats until they are done.  Mine took almost 25 minutes....  I then took a whole can of pumpkin, (the small can, not the HUGE can!  ;)) the pumpkin pie spice, raisins and walnuts, stir until combined and warm.  Serve nice and hot!  If you want it to be a bit sweeter, add some honey or pure maple syrup.  You could add brown sugar if you want.  But I try to serve it to my kids without the sweetener.  I also ate this with out any sweetener, and it was good!  The pumpkin wasn't too overwhelming either.  So if you aren't a HUGE pumpkin fan, you would like this!  :)

Bring your oats to a boil and then back down to a simmer, cover with a lid and simmer until done.

Here it is ready to add everything!  :)

Raisins, pumpkin puree, walnuts, and pumpkin pie spice

All done and ready to eat...  This may not be the best picture, but it REALLY is good!  :)

Monkey Scramblers

This was a fun and pretty easy recipe to do! I was a little late at getting breakfast this morning, so I wanted something fast, but yet healthy. Fast and healthy, not always easy!

This was fast getting it all mixed up, but I did have to "fry" it, so that took a little bit. But really, it wasn't bad. I only did one in the pan at a time, if you have a bigger pan, you can do more...

I had homemade white bread, so that part wasn't super healthy, but it was homemade, so in that respect, it was healthy! ;) You could put this on any type of bread you have or even a whole wheat english muffin!

You can also grind up your flax seeds, but I didn't take the time for that. The only way I can grind them is by using my coffee grinder and frankly, I was just plain too lazy to clean that thing out to put in a few flax seeds! They have eaten them whole in a corn chip, so I know they could handle this! (My mom had picked up some flax seed corn chips that they LOVE, I am wondering I can figure out how to make something like that....)If you don't have flax seeds, that's fine too, but they are healthy.

Flax seed is high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese, but this little seed is just getting started. There are three additional nutrient groups which flax seed has in abundance, and each has many benefits.
Flax Seed is Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, High in Fiber, High in Phytochemicals.

Anything that is rich in omega 3's and high in fiber is a plus in my book! :) But if you are eating alot of things with fiber, make sure you are drinking lots of liquid or you may get a little, um, ya know, I'm just gonna say it, constipated! And that's no fun... ok, now we've had enough info on this, let's get to the recipe!

I didn't get to take a pic after every time I dumped something in the bowl, my battery was running on low, no, not low, but running on dead and knew I only a few pictures to take before it was dead and would have to charge the battery, and I didn't have time for that! :)



Mix, mashed bananas, oatmeal, flax seed, cinnamon, milk and peanut butter together...

Then add the chocolate chips, but if you don't want them, skip this part... But if you making them for your monkeys, I bet they will really appreciate a few chocolate chips in their morning breakfast! :)



Place one spoonful on light greased pan and cook for about 5 minutes or until lightly golden brown...

As you can see, mine got a bit dark, but my monkey's didn't complain... they were just overjoyed that I actually added some CHOCOLATE CHIPS to their breakfast! ;)


Once the other side is done, place it on a piece of toast... again, mine was white, but it was homemade, so it was ok.... ;)


And rally those monkeys of yours and enjoy!! ;)


Monkey Scramblers
•2 bananas
•1/2 c. oats
•4 T. non-dairy or organic milk
•2 T. natural peanut butter
•1-2 T. ground flax
•dash of cinnamon
•1-2 heaping T. chocolate chips
•4-5 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
Mash together banana, oats, milk, peanut butter, flax and cinnamon. Fold in chocolate chips. Place a spoonful of batter into a skillet that has been coated with coconut oil and placed over medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until scrambles are starting to brown, and then flip and cook for a few minutes more. When scrambles are cooked through, place each on a slice of toasted bread. Then rally your monkeys! Mine sure enjoyed it! Infact, they want it again for breakfast tomorrow! ;)

*You can use regular milk if you like....You can also omit the chocolate chips, but a little chocolate in the morning isn't going to hurt them! It's just those sugar coated cereals that aren't healthy for them!
(I actually tried it too... you know me and oatmeal, NOT my fav, but will eat granola and granola bars.... So I tried it, it was pretty good! Personally, I'd need to put a few more chocolate chips in it, but it was good!!! ;))

Coconut-Oatmeal Cereal

I wasn't too sure about this stuff. My kiddos really haven't had any type of coconut, so I didn't know if they would like it! They know what a coconut is, they just haven't really had it! The hubs is NOT a fan of it and I'm, well, it's not my fav, but if it's cooked or in something, just a little bit of it, then I'll eat it. But to have it all over a cake just sprinkled on, most likely I won't eat it...

So that being said, I went for it making this oatmeal cereal. It's really easy to make and you just store it in a zip lock baggie.

I've been trying to make more cereal and oatmeal (and other things) for the kiddos for breakfast lately. I mean, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You do need to start your kiddos off on the right foot, right?

I'm not gonna lie, mornings are pretty tough around here. Granted, they are getting oh so much better! My little man was getting up at 5 and wouldn't go back to sleep... I don't roll like that! Now if coffee would work for me, then maybe, but I was only getting about 2 to 3 hours of sleep a nite, he was up during the nite too. I would have to rock him back to sleep...

Now he's getting up around 6 to 7, but mostly around 7, which in my book is AWESOME!!!! So, I've been wanting to get up earlier to do some exercises, then do my devos, then shower. That way I'd be ready for my little munchkins and could fix them that nice hot breakfast that they so deserved! Now, I just have to get up earlier... ;) Easier said than done....

Ok, back to the recipe and breakfast...

So this isn't a hot meal, but it is a homemade oatmeal. And it is super easy to make, and the kiddos can pour their own and then put their milk on.



I used half white and half wheat flour


Add the coconut


Then the oatmeal


Then the sesame seeds


Then I added the sugar


Then the water and oil together. Again, I didn't think it was enough water, so I just kept adding a little bit of water at a time. I think I used about 1/2 cup of water and then only 5 tablespoons of oil.... But I honestly don't remember if it was that much water or not.... :\


Here it is after it's been baked. I know, totally yummy looking here, but it really is! The kids LOVED it and it was gone within 3 days! They ate it 3 days in a row and now I guess I better make some more! :)



Coconut-Oatmeal Cereal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine in a large mixing bowl:

3 cups white or whole wheat flour
2 cups flake coconut
2 cups quick oatmeal
3 tablespoons sesame seed
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons oil
Mix well. Bake in 2 or 3 shallow baking pans until browned, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to produce crumbles of desired size.
Serve as cold cereal.

*I forgot to mention this is from More-with-Less cookbook... ;)
I used half white and half wheat flour
I used more like 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup water, I didn't think it was sticking together enough... So, start out with the 3 tablespoons and just keep adding a little bit til it sticks together a bit...
I used 1/4 cup of sugar and that was plenty! I may not add any the next time...
I also used coconut oil instead of oil
I also used one baking pan, it was kinda full, so I recommend using the 2 pans! ;)

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Okay, so this is pretty easy to make... When my oldest was a baby, I used to buy the pre-packaged apple cinnamon oatmeal. I got it because it cooked fast, and it was pre-measured. I thought I didn't have time to make it from scratch, but now with 4 kids, I make it from scratch! ;) After a few months of giving her the pre-packaged stuff, I realized it had way more sugar in it than I should probably be giving her. So from then on, I would just make it. It really isn't that hard. Just takes maybe an extra 5-10 minutes to pre-pare.

The best thing about this, YOU control how much (if any) sugar you put in this! I don't put any sugar in the kiddos, but I will put a little bit of local honey on it and mix it up. When my hubs eats it, he puts browns sugar on it.

I buy Oats in bulk at BJ's! Love making homemade granola and we will be going through more oatmeal now that it's getting cooler out. Plus my youngest girl is no longer fussing that she has to eat oatmeal, she actually likes it, or likes that I put honey on it, I dunno which one! hahaha ;)

You can pretty much make it any way you want, you can add or take any certain fruits...

This is the way I've made it the last few times, but will change it up next time. ;)
(like peaches and cinnamon- apples and bananas, will add the banana's after it's done cooking-craisins and raisins, you can also add nuts... the possibilities are endless!! ;))



Water and oats cooking


Add the chopped up apples before it comes to a boil

Bring it to a boil


Stir and cook until desired consistency (I already added the cinnamon and vanilla)



Now that it is all cooked, I added the raisins, kept adding til I thought it was enough and stirred it around....

Put them in their bowls, and drizzled a bit of honey on top. Now this pic looks like there is alot of honey, but there really isn't! ;) I also found some local honey, helps out with your allergies... Take a teaspoon everyday for 2 weeks, should help you out a bit... ;)



Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

1 cup oats
2 cups cold water
half of an apple, chopped (you decided whether to keep the skin on)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
honey or brown sugar to taste (optional)

Put oats and water in a pot and bring to a boil. You can add the cinnamon and vanilla at this time as well.
(here you decided whether you want slightly soft or crunchy apples. If you want the slightly soft ones, you add the chopped apples now... If you want the crunchy apples, then you add them right before eating your cooked oatmeal)
You will continue to cook and stir until the water is absorbed and the oatmeal is the consistency you want it.
It usually takes me about 15 minutes to cook these. But I have to double this recipe!
I also use a whole apple. I also need to peel the apple because my youngest can't eat the peeling very well. Not enough teeth yet! ;)
I also don't really measure the cinnamon and vanilla, those are things you can omit if you would like. But I like the flavor that they add.
I've been adding raisins after it's done cooking, right before serving. I don't measure, just dump! ;)

Oatmeal Pancakes

(Whoa, 3 days/recipes in a row, I am on a roll!!! :))


Again, we had brinner!! Ya know, breakfast for dinner?!?! ;)

I found this recipe in my Amish cookbook that I just got a few weeks ago at the Amish Farmer's Market! I just added a few things to it! I put cinnamon and apples in one batch and then added cinnamon and chocolate chips in another, and then had some regular ones with a bit of cinnamon. The last time I made pancakes that had apples in them, my littlest man decided to pick out all the apples! :) Crazy, silly boy!! SOOOO, I made some regular ones for him! ;)

This is one is really easy to make! You could also omit the while flour and add wheat instead!

Pour the milk over the uncooked oats

I put the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and sugar in a bowl


Mix it all together



Beat the eggs and coconut oil in a separate cup, then added it to the milk and oats

Stirring it...

All mixed up, ready for the flour...


Now it's ready! You can either start cooking them, or start adding more yummy stuff to this!


Yummy, they smelled soooooo good!!!!!!!!!


Oh yummo!! Look at those pancakes! nice and brown and perfect!!! :oP


Here's the chocolate chip ones...


These were a bit more runny, I may not have had enough flour, or oats, I dunno...


But they were still REALLY good!!!!!!! :D


Here are all 3 of them! The plain with just a bit of cinnamon, cinnamon/apples, and then the cinnamon chocolate chips... Notice a pattern here? I am not fully ready for cooler weather or fall, but maybe if I start cooking with the yummy things from fall, I will be ready? ;)


My little one trying to stuff HALF of a pancake in his mouth


This one LOVED the chocolate chips one! It was a bit worse!


It looks like it's really hard to cut, but he was sooo into cutting his pancake, determined he was gonna do it by HIMSELF!!! ;)


Yummy mom, thank you! :)




Oatmeal Pancakes

2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups uncooked oats
1 cup flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup coconut oil (or olive oil, vegetable oil...)

Pour milk over the uncooked oats and let sit while you get the other ingredients together. In another bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and sugar. (I also added 2 teaspoons cinnamon too)
Beat the eggs and add the oil, mix then add that mixture to the milk and oats. Stir. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined. (if you want other things in your pancakes, add them now.)
Bake on lightly oil/greased griddle or electric skillet until golden brown on both sides.

*I added cinnamon to one batch, apples and cinnamon to another, then yet one more I added cinnamon and chocolate chips.
I put in about 2 teaspoons cinnamon, made about 4, then added 1 whole chopped, peeled Granny Smith apple to the batter. Cooked the rest. Then I made half a batch for the chocolate chip ones. I put in about 1 teaspoon cinnamon and added a couple handfuls of chocolate chips.
These are really good and super easy to make!
You could easily use whole wheat flour instead of the white flour...
Let me know what you think! :)

I was thinking you could even add some raisin and cinnamon... yummy....