Biggest Loser Oatmeal Pancakes

I've never been a petite girl.  Its not that I consider myself FAT or Obese (even though the fat index does...) but I can say without a doubt that I'm pretty chubby.  About 7 months ago I gave up on my love for soda. It was a heartbreak for sure but I see now that I'm better off alone in that respect.  3 weeks ago I have finally decided to break up with that oh so charming sugar.  yeah I know.. WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING???  Mainly, I've made a few changes in my eating habits.  Changing things around has been huge for me.  I would love to lose some of this weight and fit comfortably in a smaller pair of jeans but mainly.. I want to feel good.  So far... I feel better.. sleep better.. have lost a little weight..  Its been great for me.  Everyone's body is different and needs to take care of it in a different way.  If you really want to see what I have been doing in that respect you can follow me HERE.  Just fair warning.. You will see me in all my fatness.. consider yourself warned..  anyway..  eating better requires some healthy recipes.  A few of you have asked for some of them.  I'm pretty busy with school, kids and just plain keeping up but I'll put some up once in a while starting with these pancakes.  mmmm..  these really surprised me..  so yummy, filling, and a great low calorie way to start your day.  I usually eat mine with a no sugar preserve.

Biggest Loser Oatmeal Pancakes

• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese ( I used low fat)
• 1 tsp. sugar or honey ( I use Stevia)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Throw it all into a blender, blend and pour onto a hot griddle or cast iron pan.  Wait for the bubbles to appear and flip.   I divide this into 4 pancakes.  This breaks down to about 80 calories per pancake.  (Watch what you put on these as topping considering this is where a lot of calories come from.) 

Total calories per recipe- 315

Homemade Granola

In my quest for higher education I have been enjoying learning so many new things.  One of the greatest of those "things" is getting to know all the amazing people who are working so hard to get an education to better themselves and their position in life.  Several of these are people my own age.. older men and women who are working and pushing through school to help their families.  Ones who are sacrificing all they can, who pull up their bootstraps, straighten their backs and dig in with all they've got.  One of these great women is Joyce Little.  With children at home and a husband also in school she sacrifices and pushes to plan for things better in the future.  She always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude that reminds me that I can do it.  She's a real inspiration to me.  (Thanks Joyce)  This recipe for homemade granola is from Joyce.  She had this as a snack one day and so willingly shared as we studied.  Having a hard time studying I made her promise to bring me the recipe... here it is for all of us with her blessing..

Homemade Granola

In a saucepan combine and melt until syrup:

3/4  cup butter (do not use margarine)

2/3 cup brown sugar

4 TBS honey

2 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl combine:

6 cups rolled oats

3 cups goodies ( fruit, nuts, seeds, etc.. ) 

        note: apple slices do not do well in this recipe

Pour syrup over oat mixture and stir until fully covered.  Spread on a greased cookie sheet and bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes stirring once halfway through.

Let cool on cookie sheet then break apart and store in an airtight container. 

(M&M’s or chocolate chips can be added after granola is cool.)

Creamed Eggs on Toast

This is a favorite of my children. I've made it for so long but never had a recipe so I got one figured out and here we go. This is a quick and homey meal anytime of the day.

Creamed Eggs on Toast

6 eggs
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper, if desired
salt and pepper to taste
toast

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil for 3 minutes and then remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.

Over medium heat melt butter in saucepan. Add flour until it forms into a ball. Slowly add the milk and stir until the sauce comes to a low boil. (Sauce will be creamy like gravy)

Stir the white pepper, salt, black pepper, and chopped eggs into the sauce; stir until the eggs are heated.

Serve over buttered toast.

Strawberry Crepes

The kids and I wanted a special breakfast on Fathers Day. We wanted something our dad would love.. something fun and fancy but simple at the same time. Strawberry Crepes! mmmmmmm...
Fun...check...
Fancy... check..
Simple.. double check..
Loved by dad... You better believe it!!

Strawberry Crepes

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
2 TBS butter (melted)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Beat with hand mixer until smooth. Lightly butter 6-8 inch skillet. Heat over medium heat until bubbly. For each crepe, pour scant 1/4 cup of the batter into skillet. Immediately rotate skillet until film covers bottom.
Cook until light brown. Run wide spatula around edge to loosen; turn and cook other side until light brown. Stake crepes, placing waxed paper between each; keep covered.
Spread filling and fresh strawberries over each warm crepe; roll up. sprinkle with powder sugar.

Filling

1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 cup strawberry yogurt
1/4 cup powder sugar

Whip cream with powder sugar until peaks start to form. Stir in yogurt and continue mixing until desired consistency.

Hash Brown Quiche

I found this recipe in The Essential Mormon Cookbook by Julie Badger Jensen. There are a lot of simple homey recipes in there that I will share. This recipe is easy and delicious for any time of the day. My family likes it for dinner made in individual serving sizes. I use my jumbo muffin tins and they think its something fancy. We often throw in a few extra ingredients like onions, peppers, or mushrooms or even pepperjack cheese.

Hash Brown Quiche

8 uncooked shredded frozen hash browns or patties
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup cubed precooked ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
8 eggs
2 cups milk or cream
½ teaspoon salt

Place hash brown patties in a greased 9×13 inch pan. Pour melted butter evenly over the surface of potato patties. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. (at this point I us a fork and press the potatoes so that there at no gaps and the potatoes cover the bottom of the pan completely) Sprinkle potatoes with ham and cheese. In a large bowl beat eggs. Add milk or cream and salt. Pour mixture over cheeses and ham. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes ( I think it’s about 40 in my oven, just until a knife comes out clean) serves 8

Modified English Tea Scones

I worked hard on this recipe. When I received the original it was ok but I really wanted this one to be good, not just good but Great! It just had so many possibilities. So a week and several modifications later the wait was over. Baby, it was worth it! This has to be my favorite sweet for breakfast. With so many options for filling, the possibilities are endless.. from tart and tangy strawberry rhubarb to rich chocolaty chip and don't forget streusel with pecans... or pineapple coconut.. or.. fresh peach.. or ...well, you get the picture... and even better? sshhhh don't tell.... it's really simple.


Modified English Tea Scones

2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup melted butter (not Margarine)
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
Filling such as jam, chocolate chips, fruit, nuts, etc...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a seperate bowl add melted butter eggs and milk. Whip to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients all at once. With rubber spatula mix together until very soft dough forms. Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll into balls. Flatten 8 and top with 1-2 TBS filling of your choice. (jam, streusel, berries,etc...) flatten each remaining ball and place on top of filling. Seal edges. Bake 12-15 minutes or until deges are golden. Don't overbake or they may get a little dry. Sprinkle with sugar when still hot.

Overnight Pull Aparts

If you are looking for something easy, warm and so delicious for Christmas morning may I suggest these overnight pull aparts? Prepare the night before and bake them up in the morning. Or, make them up in the morning and bake them just before leaving for that potluck party you're attendiing. Whatever the occasion I know you'll love them. I usually leave out the cranberries and substitute raspberries or mini chocolate chips. Cinnamin you say? Check the bottom of this post for a more traditional version.

Overnight Pull Aparts

12 to 16 frozen white roll dough (still frozen, I use 16)

1 (3.4 oz.) package vanilla instant pudding

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup dried cranberries

1 orange ring, grated

½ cup butter or margarine, melted

Frosting (recipe below)

Sprinkle cranberries in the bottom of a greased bundt pan. Arrange rolls evenly in pan. Mix sugar and dry pudding together and sprinkle over rolls. Combine orange rind with melted butter and spoon over rolls. Cover pan with sprayed plastic wrap. Place pan in cold oven overnight (8 to 10 hours). Remove rolls from oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap from pan and bake for 25 min. Immediately invert pan onto a serving platter. Cool slightly and drizzle with frosting.

Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

To make the same thing in a cinnamon version you can use:

¾ chopped nuts in place of the cranberries

4 oz package of butterscotch pudding in place of vanilla pudding and sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in place of the orange rind

In the frosting use milk in place of the orange juice.