Overnight Oatmeal Bake with Fruit

I'm always having to bring a breakfast dish to my MOPS group and hate having to prep lots of stuff before heading out the door...because, honestly, that's just not gonna happen! So- anything that I can stir together the night before and pop in the oven in the morning is perfect! I found this recipe online and mixed it up to my liking. I had fresh blueberries and apples on hand, but I'm sure that any combo of fruits would be great too! It turned out even better than I expected!

·         2 large eggs

·         1/3 cup brown sugar

·         1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

·         1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

·         1 teaspoon nutmeg

·         1 teaspoon cinnamon

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1/4 cup butter, melted

·         1/2 cup applesauce

·         1 cup plus 2 T. milk

·         3 cups old-fashioned oats

·         1/2 cup blueberries

·         1 chopped apple (or any other combination of fruits)

·         1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Spray a 2-qt. baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Add brown sugar, baking powder, vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. Whisk in butter, applesauce, and milk, then add oats, fruits and nuts. Stir well, and refrigerate overnight. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 35-40 min, or until set in the middle.

Recipe adapted from www.amybites.com

Save the Berries!

Nothing makes me more mad than throwing away spoiled food. It's such a waste! It seems like berries are always the first to spoil....but not any more!!! I learned a new trick.

Soak berries in a mixture of 1 cup water to 1 tbsp vinegar for about 5 minutes. (I usually use about 4 cups of water and 4 tbsp vinegar for 1 pint of strawberries.) Rinse well, dry and store in the fridge. They last at least twice as long!!! The vinegar kills the mold spores like magic! I just saved you lots of money, so you're welcome :)

Banana *Ice Cream*

Victory is mine! Bwahahaha. (that's my evil laugh) Ross has been eating more fruit than he has in his entire life! I win!!!

Here's what I've learned. If you want your husband (or probably any 5 year old child) to eat lots of fruit, all you have to do is freeze it, call it ice cream and viola!

Banana *Ice Cream*

Ingredients
3 ripe bananas (they need to be really ripe but not solid brown and mushy)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Splash of milk
Sugar to taste (depending on sweetness of bananas)
*Handful of peanut butter cups, optional but yummy!

Directions
Freeze bananas. Peel and chop bananas into pieces. Place all ingredients in food processor. Blend until mixture comes together and enjoy!

Watermelon and Peach Sorbet {no ice cream maker req'd}

This week I have been on a mission....a mission to get my husband to eat fruit, lots and lots of fruit. So far, so good!!


Watermelon and Peach Sorbet

Ingredients
6 cups ripe watermelon, cut into cubes
juice from one lime
3 peaches, cut into cubes
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup

Directions
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until liquefied. Pour liquid into a freezer safe, covered dish. Freeze until solid. I froze it overnight. Once frozen, let melt a little bit and cut into squares. Place squares into food processor and blend until it reaches sorbet consistency. Now, sit back and watch your husband gobble it up!

{3 ingredient} Mixed Berry Sorbet

I made this tonight and WOW was it easy!

Ingredients
1 16 oz bag frozen mixed berries (or berries of your choice)
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar

Directions
Pulse frozen berries in food processor until grainy like corn meal. Mix sugar into water until dissolved. With food processor still going, pour in sugar mixture and pulse into incorporated. Put into glass container with air tight lid and freeze for 30 minutes before serving. Yummy!!

NOT A RECIPE

The other day at school I was trying to peel a banana at school and I couldn't get it open. One of my students offered to help me. He then proceeded to peel it upside down....According to him, it is how monkeys do it! Haha...You learn something new every day! Be sure to pinch the bottom little thing. It will split and then you can peel it. Here's a visual, just in case.