Fruit Baked Oatmeal

I absolutely love this recipe. It is the best comfort food on a cold winter morning (not that we are dealing with that now but, oh, it will come!) You can do more or less sugar depending on your sweet tooth and whatever fruit sounds good to you. I like the amount I use because it is just sweet enough to be great by itself, but not sickly sweet. In fact the recipe I got this from called for 1 cup of sugar...but it was way too much in my opinion and I altered several other things to our likeness!! I like the combination. This is great to make the day before and then you can have it for two or three mornings. Now that I have a kindergartener, I think I will make it more because it keeps them fuller, longer!

Fruit Baked Oatmeal

6 cups oats

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups milk

1 cup oil

3/4 cup chopped apple

1/2 cup chopped, fresh or frozen peaches

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Combine the eggs, milk and oil; add to the dry ingredients. Stir in the apple, peaches, and blueberries. Pour into a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cut into squares and serve with milk.

Raisin-Zucchini Spice Muffins

Simple, yummy, and a great way to use some zucchini. We love these as a snack or else have it with breakfast.
Raisin-Zucchini Spice Cupcakes
1 package spice cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup oil
3 eggs
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup raisins
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in zucchini and raisins. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

10 Day Meal Plan (this time it's 11)

Breakfast
1. Esther's Poppyseed Muffins
2. Cold Cereal
3. Waffles, Fried Eggs, Grits
4. Whole Wheat Waffles
5. Scrambled Eggs, Toast
6. Whole Wheat Pancakes
7. Cold Cereal
8. Breakfast Peach Crisp
9. Oatmeal/Wheat Cereal
10. Cereal
11. Rice Pudding

Lunch
1. Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Carrots
2. Leftover Pizza
3. Grilled Cheese
4. Pizza Snacks, Grapes
5. Leftovers
6. Grilled Tuna
7. Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans
8. Leftover Rice and Refried Black Beans
9. Leftovers
10. Leftovers
11. Sandwich

Dinner
1. Mushroom and Olive Pizza, Salad
2. Fried Egg Sandwich
3. Burritos
4. Leftovers
5. Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad, Lettuce Salad
6. Mexican Pizza
7. Broiled Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Pepper Rice
8. Black Bean Pizza, Carrots
9. Lemon Herb Pasta
10. Crockpot Chicken/Zucchini
11. Roast, Carrots and Potatoes

Mexican Pizzas

4 tostada shells
1/2 cup refried beans
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 Tbs. salsa
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded cheese
Cook beef and onion until beef is no longer pink. Stir in salsa and salt. Arrange tostadas on a pan. Spread 2 Tbs. refried beans over each tostada shell. Spoon 1/4 cup beef mixture over beans. Top each with 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for a few minutes (until cheese melts) Serve with chopped lettuce, tomatos, and avacado.

Shishkebabs

We had a family party with the Morris'. Justin's sister made some yummy shishkebabs with lots of different veggies. I am going to add some sweet potatoes as well when I make these again.

Small Potatoes (or cut potatoes into chunks)
Red Pepper
Onions
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Sweet Potatoes
And of course, any other veggies you desire!

Cut all the veggies into good-sized chunks.
Cook the potatoes until they are pretty soft, then add the other veggies and cook for a few minutes unitl they are a little bit soft. Then marinade them in a dressing (Italian Dressing) for a few hours. String them onto skewer sticks and broil in the oven unil they are lighlty browned, or you can grill them.

I know this is a fun way for kids to eat their veggies...my boys loved them!! Serve with coleslaw, some kind of rice, or any thing you think goes with it!

Homemade Mac and Cheese!!!

This is now a fav of our families and it so quick and easy!! Once you have this you will never want the box kind again!!

3-4 handfulls of uncooked macoroni noodles
1/4 butter
1 cup milk more or less depending on how juciy you want it
2 to 3 in. of velveta cheese and add some reg. cheese too
3 to 4 slices of your favorite cheese to melt on top.

Cook noodles Drain noodles and add to cheese mixture. Mix until its all combined then top with cheese and put in 350 oven for 15mins. Enjoy!!
I'll post a pic later for all to see the cheesy goodness!!

Spinach Pizza

I was thrilled to get to use the spinach in my garden for this. Justin really liked this recipe...a great way to add extra veggies to pizza!
1 recipe pizza crust
1 cup alfredo sauce
6-8 cups chopped fresh spinach
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
3-4 cups shredded cheese

Prepare pizza crust (recipe below). Spread each with 1/2 cup alfredo sauce. Bake in 450 degree oven for 5 minutes. Top with spinach, tomatoes, and then cheese. (I'm sure you can throw any other veggie on there for added flavor, mushrooms or onion, etc..) Bake for 10-15 minutes more.