Banana and Cream Oatmeal

This is the best oatmeal I have ever had.  My husband doesn't love oatmeal but ate this without complaining.  (always a good sign right?!)

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 medium ripe bananas cut into coins
• 1/2 cup non-fat sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions 

1. In a large saucepan bring water and milk to a boil.
2. Add the oats and reduce heat to medium.  Cook for one minute stirring the whole time.
3. Remove from heat, add banana slices and condensed milk.  Stir to mix.  
4. Cover the saucepan with the lid and let set for 2-5 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached.
5. Serve warm, sprinkled with cinnamon, pecans or walnuts, and a splash of milk.  YUM!  

Baked Beans

These are the perfect side dish for BBQs.  They are sweet and savory, plus they contain bacon.  Lets face it... bacon makes everything better!

Ingredients

• 2 16 oz cans baked beans (I like the maple brown sugar ones best)
• 1/4 c. molasses
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
• 4 Tb brown sugar
• 1 Tb prepared Dijon mustard
• 2 Tb ketchup
• 2-4 slices bacon cooked until crispy, then crumbled

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine all ingredients in a greased casserole dish.  (I like to line mine with tinfoil for easy clean up).  
3. Cover and bake for three hours or until thick.

Grandma's Apple Toffee Dip

This is the best dip EVER!!  I've brought it to a number of parties and everyone always raves about it.

Ingredients

• 3/4 C. white sugar
• 1/2 C. brown sugar
• 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 package of scores or heath toffee bits
• 6-9 granny smith apples, cored and chopped into wedges

Directions

1. Combine sugars and cream cheese in a medium mixing bow and mix on medium speed until well combined.
2. Pour in toffee and mix with a spoon until well combined.
3.  Cut apples and soak in lemon juice to prevent browning.

Easiest Salsa Ever

This is my mother-in-law's salsa recipe.  It is quick, easy, and most importantly, it is delicious.  With only seven ingredients, you cant go wrong....

Ingredients

• 1 6 oz can green chilies
• 5 green onions (cut off the tip of the white end and only use the first 2 inches or so of the green part)
• 2 large cans tomatoes, drained (I use Mexican stewed, but you can use diced or whatever)
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 2 tsps salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• half bunch of fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a  food processor and pulse until smooth.  Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Low-fat, Low-Calorie, Blueberry Muffins

Don't skip this recipe just because it has "Low-fat and Low-calorie" in the title.  These Blueberry muffins are moist, sweet, and delicious, but totally healthy for you at the same time.  These muffins will allow you to indulge in a sweet treat without blowing up your waistline.  At only 80 calories per muffin, how could you not try it?  This recipe is one I adapted from a regular old blueberry muffin recipe found on allrecipes.com.


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c whole grain rolled oats
• 1 c  lite coconut milk
• 1/2 c unsweetened, natural applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. honey
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon extract (optional, but the extra lemony flavor makes these really tasty)
• 1 tsp lemon zest (again, optional)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blue berries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Grease muffin tins or line with paper liners.
2. Mix oats, coconut milk, applesauce, egg, honey, vanilla, and lemon.  Let stand for about ten minutes.
3. Mix all remaining dry ingredients and gradually add to wet ingredients.  
4. Fold in blueberries and drop by the spoonful into prepared muffin tins. 
5. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.  Remove to cooling rack and enjoy :)

Wake Em' Up Breakfast Casserol

This is seriously the best breakfast casserole I've ever had.  I have made it several times and it is always a favorite :)


Serves 10-12


Ingredients

• 1 lb sausage or bacon (healthier I use fat-free sausage or turkey sausage)
• 8 eggs (for healthier I use 4 eggs and 8 egg whites)
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder or 1 tsp prepared mustard
• 1 green pepper diced ( I usually saute it before adding it to casserole because my husband doesn't like crunchy veggies in his food)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 c. small curd cottage cheese ( I sometimes substitute low-fat large curd and don't notice a big difference)
• 1 c. shredded swiss cheese ( you can use two cups of whatever cheese you have on hand, I usually use 2 cups of the mexican blend)
• 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 c. frozen hash browns
• 1/2 c. of your favorite veggie (ie. broccoli, onions, zuchini, ect.  I usually add sauted onions, and canned green chilies)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. brown sausage or bacon in a skillet until cooked completely.
3. saute onion and green pepper in skillet using rendered fat from sausage or bacon.
4. in a large bowl combine eggs, mustard, salt, pepper, and cottage cheese.  Mix until eggs are slightly beaten.
5. Add hash-browns and cheese. Mix well, then add green pepper, onion, green chilies, and meat.  
6. After everything is mixed, pour into a greased casserole dish.  Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until center is set and edges are browned.
7. Let sit 10 minutes, then cut and enjoy. 

*I'll usually prepare this the night before and put it in the fridge, then pull it out and cook it at 350 for an hour.