Breakfast!

I suck really bad at breakfast during the work week....I never have enough time to make anything and Bananas and yogurt go quick in my house.  I found these recipes on pinterest and decided to give it a shot....this way breakfast will not  be skipped!


The first thing I made was Oatmeal Breakfast Bars - no sugar or flower added...well, sort of.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups of Quick or Old Fashion Oatmeal
2 ripe bananas (mash until creamy)
1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup of raisins (I opted for a mixture of cranberries, dried pomegranate seeds and chocolate chips.  But you could really add anything you like)
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts (I opted for cashews on the tops..I am not a fan of walnuts)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon (I used about 2 because I love cinnamon!)

Directions
1)  Preheat heat oven to 350 degrees.

2)  Mix vanilla extract & cinnamon into the applesauce.
3)  Blend applesauce mixture with all other ingredients & let sit for 10 minutes
4)  Drop dough, by spoonfuls, onto a cookie sheet & flatten cookies into long rectangles.
5)  Bake approx. 20 - 30 minutes, or until golden & done.

Here is my finished Product!  They are a little on the chewy side....I just piled them into a Tupperware container and left them on the counter.  I made 12 good size bars, about the size of my palm.


My next adventure was to find something my daughter would eat for breakfast....I am trying to get her to eat more veggies.  So, I tried out Chocolate Zucchini Muffins....and these were a hit!  In fact, I just made them yesterday and they are almost gone!

INGREDIENTS

1½ cups white whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp instant coffee crystals
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
½ tsp ginger
1½ tsp cinnamon
5 ounces Semi-Sweet chocolate, melted
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 cups shredded zucchini
1 cups dark chocolate chips

  Directions
1)  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2)  In large bowl, mix together flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, instant coffee, sugar, brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon.  Set off to the side.
3)  In medium bowl, Whisk together oil, eggs and vanilla for about 2 minutes.
4)  Slightly press zucchini to drain some of the juice off. You don't want it to be too dry...but just get as much as you can out.
5)  Add zucchini to dry ingredients and toss to coat.
6)  Pour melted chocolate into bowl with dry ingredients and mix well.
7)  Add oil  and egg mixture and mix well.
8)  Using a large spoon, fill muffin tins or muffin pan.
9)  Bake in top third of preheated oven at 425 degrees for 11 minutes.
10)  Turn oven down to 325 degrees and continue baking for 11 more minutes. (Do not open the oven!)
11)  Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

They are DELICIOUS!  My daughter LOVED them - and these are way healthier than sugar coated cereal or pop tarts!