Maple Berry Oatmeal Cups (2 P+)

Here's another baked oatmeal recipe.  I wanted to make something a little different than the last batch and make it a little lighter.  I omitted the butter and made a couple other changes.  I also decided to make a smaller batch because I only have one 12 cup muffin tin so I only have to bake one batch.  I hope you like it!

Maple Berry Oatmeal Cups
12 Servings, 45 minutes
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Ingredients:

1 c steel cut oats

9 strawberries, quartered

36 blueberries

¼ c walnuts, chopped

1 c milk

1 egg

¼ c brown sugar

2 t cinnamon

2 t maple syrup

½ t baking soda

¼ t salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°.  Line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners.

Divide the oats between the 12 muffin liners (approximately 1 ½ T each).

Divide the berries between the muffin tins (3 blueberries and ¾ strawberry each).  Top with walnuts.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.  Divide and pour into the muffin cups (muffin cups should end up ¾ full).

Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, until liquid has set.

Cool for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.

Notes:

Put into an airtight container and store in the fridge for a few days.  You can eat them cold or warm them for 45

Fruit Snacks (1 P+)

Fruit Snacks
8 Servings, 60 minutes
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Ingredients:

1 lb strawberries, sliced
1 banana, sliced
1 t cinnamon
3-5 packets Knox gelatin

Instructions:
Cook strawberries and banana in a saucepan for approximately 15 minutes until strawberries have softened.  Blend fruit and cinnamon in a blender until smooth.

Refrigerate 1/2 cup of the fruit mixture for 15 minutes.  Stir gelatin into chilled fruit and dissolve, approximately 5 minutes.  Add remaining warm fruit mixture.

Fill silicone ice cube trays with mixture and refrigerate for 20 minutes or until fruit has set.  Remove and store in an air-tight container for up to one week.

Notes:
Silicone ice cube trays should be available in the kitchen section of most stores.  The shapes shown are from trays that I got from Ikea for $1 each.

The amount of gelatin used is going to determine how firm your fruit snacks are.  Use 3 for a relatively soft snack and 5 for chewier snacks.

Other fruit can be used to make these.  Please share your favorite combinations!

Energizing Protein Shake (6 P+)

I like to drink these every morning.  My son has to be a part of it so I blend coconut water, a banana, and a handful of frozen berries.  I fill up his cup and then add the rest of the ingredients to the blender to  finish my drink.

Energizing Protein Shake
1 serving, 5 minutes
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Ingredients:

1 banana

4 oz coconut water

8 oz coffee

8 ice cubes

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

2 T sugar free vanilla coffee syrup

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Serve over ice.

Notes:

Throw in a handful of berries or other fruit.

Puree fruit and freeze it in ice cube trays so it’s ready first thing in the morning.

Substitute skim milk for the coconut water for a creamier drink.

If you’d like it even creamier, substitute vanilla yogurt for the coconut water.

Baked Oatmeal (3 P+)

Baked Oatmeal 

18 Servings, 60 Minutes

PRINTABLE

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients       

2 c steel-cut oats         

1 t baking soda      

½ t salt      

1 cup strawberries, sliced      

1 banana, diced      

1 cup walnuts or almonds, chopped       

Wet Ingredients 

2 c milk

1 egg

4 T butter, melted

1 T vanilla

⅓ c brown sugar   
1 T cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°.  Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners.

Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another bowl.

Divide the dry mixture evenly into the muffin cups.  Top with an equal amount of the wet mixture.

Place in oven and bake 45 minutes or until liquid has set.

Notes:

The beauty of this recipe is that every cup can be made differently.  Modify this recipe by using different fruit or nuts or by adding chocolate chips or dried fruit. 

Add some sweetness by sprinkling brown sugar over the oatmeal after it has been cooked.


Wrap these in plastic wrap and put them in the refrigerator or freezer until needed.  From the refrigerator, we microwave them for 45 seconds.


Old-Fashioned or Rolled Oats can be substituted for the Steel-Cut Oats, they will just have a different texture.