Oatmeal Pancakes

Stack of 2 Oatmeal Pancakes
with Strawberries

There is something about winter and me thinking about oats.  Not in cookies nor as a topping, but as in Oatmeal Pancakes.  Oatmeal Pancakes!!  Their name may not sound very exciting, but let me tell you they are so good!!  With each bite there is a little crunch going on.  Oats,  fat free Buttermilk, egg whites, olive oil ... all favorite cooking ingredients for me!  I had not make these pancakes in a while.  The memory of enjoying them in the morning with strawberries served on top came back.  I like mine stacked before topping with the strawberries.  Yum!!   

The combination of Strawberries and Oats tastes so good!  So, the night before, a Ziploc bag of frozen sliced (slightly sweetened) strawberries were taken out of our freezer to defrost in the fridge for the next morning.  The Oats and Buttermilk are also combined the night before.  Then, the next morning finish preparing the batter and get your skillet hot!  It was time to combine the Buttermilk and Oats in a bowl and let the process begin! 

This recipe makes a large batch, so I freeze the extra pancakes.  Each is placed in an individual sandwich bag.  The pancakes are stacked and then placed into a Ziploc freezer Bag and popped into the freezer.  They are ready to enjoy at other breakfasts.  Defrosting/ reheating the Oatmeal Pancakes in the microwave works great. 
             
Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
2 Cups Fat Free Buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
1 Cup Fat Free Buttermilk- use the next morning
1/2 Cup Flour
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Egg + 2 Egg Whites, beaten
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil for baking & sauteing 

Method:

1.  Combine Oats, Buttermilk, Cinnamon and Nutmeg in a bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2.  Next morning add 1 Cup additional Buttermilk.  Stir.  
3.  Stir together Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder & Baking Soda in a small bowl.
4.  Add to Oats/ Buttermilk mixture.
5.  Add beaten Egg + Egg Whites and Olive Oil. 
6.  Stir all together, adding small amount of Buttermilk if needed.
7.  Pour 1/4 Cup batter on hot griddle for each pancake.
8.  When brown, flip over and cook other side.
9. Serve!

What a great breakfast!  If you do not have Strawberries for a topping, Maple Syrup also tastes so good!   

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~Banana Craisin Oatmeal~

Add 1 more ingredient-
1 sliced Banana

It's gotten a bit chillier in the morning!  Today it's s-n-o-w-i-n-g!  This kind of weather reminds me that a hot bowl of cereal filled with oats tastes so good for breakfast.  A bowl of Craisin Creamy Oatmeal!  Looking over at our fruit bowl "I spied" a Banana.  Before I knew it, the Banana was sliced & added into the pot with the other ingredients for our hot oatmeal cereal.  It was a change up in the flavor.  A great change with that added Potassium filled Banana!  WoW!!!

Treat yourself to this hearty fruit filled breakfast on a chilly day!  

Banana Craisin Oatmeal
     2 Servings 

Ingredients:
1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats 
1 Banana- cut into slices
1/4 Cup Craisins (Dried Cranberries)
1 and 1/2 Cups Soy Milk (or Milk)
1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Brown Sugar- as desired

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pot. 
2. Let stand 10 Minutes. 
3. Heat to a boil over Medium heat.
4. Stir & cook for 5 Minutes.
5. Divide between 2 bowls.
6. Add more (Soy) Milk!
7. Enjoy a great bowl of hot cereal!

What a great way to start the day!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Time for OATMEAL!

Oh, there's a bit of a chill in the air these mornings!  Definitely time for a bowl of creamy, nutritious, hearty Oatmeal.  No, not the instant oatmeal packets that can be purchased and boiling hot water is added.  This is the oatmeal that tastes delicious after all of the ingredients are placed in a sauce pot, combined and sit for like 5 - 10 minutes, so the oats may soften a bit, before being heated and stirred.  Mmmm!

The Quaker Oats canister has the directions printed on the backside, if needed.  I also stir in 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg & 1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon with the oats and milk.  A handful of Craisins (dried Cranberries) add a bit of tang and sweetness to this delicious hot cereal.  Brown Sugar (desired amount) is also added. 

 
Calcium is an important part of a diet that's needed every day, and a serving of this hot cereal contains 8 oz. - including the Milk added in the cereal bowl.  This is a great start to the needed daily amount of Calcium, every day.

I use Soy Milk and I find that a half gallon of Soy Milk is always on my grocery list.  The Old Fashioned Oats and Craisins will be on my next Costco list!  They will be divided into more usable containers, after purchasing.  :)  There will be more cooking with Oats & Craisins this week!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~White Chocolate Craisin Oaties~

Waiting for the White Chocolate Morsels...

It was deja vu!  Our home felt a tad chilly when we awoke this AM and my first thought was recalling where I'd stored the remaining packets of Taster's Choice instant coffee.  After our electricity was restored following the Halloween Nor'easter just weeks ago, there were 5 packets left.  Now, I need my hot coffee in the AM.  Our gas stove allowed me that necessity then and I definitely wanted it again - our indoors thermometer read 55°F.

A few hours later, the electricity was once again restored and I'm now back to preparing for the fun weekend ahead.  That includes baking a batch of White Chocolate Craisin Oaties!  I'll use my recipe for Craisin Raisin Oaties (printable recipe) with a couple changes.  The added Nutmeg - oh yes, yummy!

Changes: 

1. Add 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg.
2. Omit Raisins.
3. Use 3/4 Cup Craisins (dried cranberries).
4. Add in 6 ounces of White Chocolate Morsels (Nestle's)
5. Baking Time was 13 minutes.

White Chocolate Craisin Oaties are so good!  This weekend I baked a batch to bring to our neighbors' gathering.  During the baking process, there was definite "quality control" testing going on.  After all, one cannot offer a dessert that does not meet the "absolutely yummy I want another" standard.  :)  It was sure difficult to eat only two while baking! 

Now, another batch will be baked for my family to...

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Welcoming Sights!

The brightly colored crocuses that have made their appearances in our front yard are a very welcome sight!  Many have expanded their boundaries into our front lawn.  Two weeks ago we had large piles of snow and now ... ah, spring has arrived.  Warmer temperatures allow for daily walks outside.  Gloves and certainly not boots are necessary today.

That could mean only one thing - last night our outdoor grill was heated!  

A tempting grilled cheeseburger with the gooey cheese melting down the sides onto the sesame seed bun tasted so good!  Every bite was enjoyed!  Devouring cheeseburgers at dinner is not a habit, but the first grilled cheeseburger of the year is always wonderful.  Sure, we also ate a large veggie salad, but the cheeseburger was eaten very quickly.  :)

With April 1 two days away and word s..n..o..w mentioned, sure glad we used our outdoor grill last night! 

We enjoyed!
Yummy!

Creamy Banana Oatmeal

There was one Banana in the fruit bowl this morning!  Now, I can remember when gazing over to a brown spotted Banana in the morning was not very appealing.  The reasoning - it did not have that "just right for eating at lunchtime" appearance.   But ... on these chilly mornings a hearty breakfast of Creamy Banana Oatmeal tastes so good!  The lonely spotted Banana that contains Potassium sure helps make a yummy & healthy breakfast!

I follow the directions on the Quaker Old Fashioned Oat canister.  O.K., I admit one of the large packages of the dual pack of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats purchased from Costco has been divided and stored in my pantry.  You know how I like to prepare foods using Old Fashioned Oats and enjoy their taste!  :)  The large box purchased from Costco is not really that big!

Soy Milk, along with Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Raisins &/or Craisins, Brown Sugar (optional), and the Banana (sliced) are combined in a sauce pot.  I do not use Salt.  The Soy Milk replaces Whole or Low Fat Milk. 

Let the ingredients in the pot sit for 5 minutes before starting to cook according to directions on canister.  The result is a creamy Oatmeal with a delicious taste of Banana. A great breakfast before heading outdoors!

Do you prepare Oatmeal for breakfast?
Enjoy!
Yummy!

             

Yes! Oaties in the Freezer!

The flowering trees in my neighborhood look so pretty! Today the outdoor temperature reads 88°F. No, this is not a day to bake. Somewhere in my freezer there must be one remaining Ziploc Freezer Bag containing cookies.

Tucked away in the back on the bottom shelf I located a dated and labelled Ziploc Freezer Bag containing Craisin Raisin Oaties. I remember baking them about a month ago. Today on this very warm day it is quite the find!

Whenever I bake a double batch of these chewy, colorful, delicious cookies, I package a dozen or two in Ziploc Freezer Bags after they have cooled. Into the freezer they go. These cookies taste so good after they have been defrosted. (Oh yes, a warm cookie also tastes really good about five minutes after the cookie sheet has been removed from my oven!) On a busy or a very warm day it’s a welcome find to locate a package to defrost. Sure, I know that my local Big Y sells “Gourmet Cookies” in plastic containers. However, locating homemade Craisin Raisin Oaties in my freezer can make my day.

Below is the recipe for one batch. Usually, I bake a double batch.

I now use 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites, rather than 2 Whole Eggs when preparing the batter. I also omit the Salt. Slowly add Flour into batter. :)

Craisin Raisin Oaties

Oven: 350°F Yield: About 3 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients:
1 Cup (2 sticks) Margarine/Butter, softened (I use Promise.)
1 Cup Brownulated Sugar
½ Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs ( OR 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites)
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 + ½ Cups all purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Salt (optional)
3 Cups Quaker Oats (Old Fashioned, uncooked)
½ Cup Dried Craisins
½ Cup Raisins

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Beat Sugars and Margarine/Butter together until creamy.
3. Add Eggs, (Whites) & Vanilla. Beat well.
4. Add Baking Soda, Cinnamon & Flour. (& Optional Salt, if desired) Mix well.
5. With large spoon or spatula stir in Oats.
6. Add Craisins & Raisins and stir well.
7. Place 12 rounded Tablespoons of batter onto ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Bake 10 – 12 Minutes, until golden brown.
9. Remove from pan onto wire rack.
10. Cool & Enjoy!
11. Place some in freezer to enjoy at a later date! ;-)

Craisins and Raisins make for one very tasty Oatmeal Cookie! Do you bake a double batch of cookies, and place some in your freezer?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

The Overripe Banana

Earlier this morning before Breakfast I glanced over to the fruit bowl on my kitchen counter. One overripe Banana remained. Hmmm, it did not really look very appetizing. Then again, Bananas have never been a favorite fruit of mine, so I cannot imagine that a piece of yellow fruit speckled with brown spots would be very appealing to me. Yes, I’ve read articles stating that Bananas contain Potassium. O.K., I get that. I eat one almost every day, but it has to look “just right”. Bananas are not juicy and scrumptious to me like Oranges and Apples are. For that reason I like to hide them in other foods. Oatmeal is a great example!

On a chilly morning a bowl of Creamy Oatmeal prepared with Quaker Old Fashioned Oats tastes so good. Especially if it is flavored with Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Nutmeg. Having a little Banana flavoring does not hurt this tasty, healthy bowl of warm cereal. Actually, it is quite delicious!

After enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving my fridge is mostly empty, but a partial carton of Soy Milk was located. So, I had plans for the remaining piece of overripe fruit. Following the directions on the Quaker Oat canister for preparing Oatmeal, I added in one overripe Banana that was cut into slices. In preparing Oatmeal, I omit the Salt and sprinkle in Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Brown Sugar - according to taste. If the combo sits in the pot for 5 minutes before applying the heat, a creamier Oatmeal is the result.

The flavor was great and the Banana slices melted, so they were not even noticed! It made some pretty tasty oatmeal!

Do you enjoy warm Oatmeal on a cold morning?

Enjoy!

Yummy!

Such Tasty Pancakes!

At this time of year in Western MA yard work is a must! In many families either Saturday or Sunday brings out the raking/blowing leaves detail. We had been enjoying the long lasting colorful beautiful leaves on all of our trees this fall. But, at some point we knew that an abundance of leaves would flutter downward forming a carpet on our lawns. Most leaves are brown. Others are red or a golden color. There are town residents who hire local landscape services to remove the leaves. Other families take on the yearly challenge themselves. My hubby takes on this challenge for us.

Now, if you are planning on spending time outside taking care of the leaves detail on the weekend, a hearty breakfast is a must. Pancakes are an all time breakfast favorite in my household. Sitting down for breakfast and enjoying Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes is the best! After eating one bite you might ask - Is Oatmeal really an ingredient in these pancakes? They are very light!

These tasty pancakes are prepared in two steps. Step 1 - The evening before the pancakes will be made on the griddle, old-fashioned oats and buttermilk are mixed together in a large bowl and refrigerated.

Now, I have learned that doing this step about 16 hours before Step 2 results in lighter Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes. (Click for recipe).

Oh yes, they do freeze well, also. After breakfast, cool any extra pancakes. Each one can be placed in a separate sandwich bag and then stored in a labeled/dated Ziploc Freezer Bag. It makes for a great breakfast on another busy morning with the aid of a microwave!

Do you prepare pancakes? What kind do you make? Are there any extra pancakes after breakfast that you could place in your freezer?

Enjoy!

Yummy!

Add Plumped Craisins & Raisins!

Autumn in New England! What a great season! Apples and apple cider taste so good. The crisp mornings are preparing us for the chillier weather that is in our future! Usually when the mornings are a bit cool in October I think of creamy Oatmeal for breakfast. The recipe on the canister of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats is the favorite. Using Old Fashioned Oats, Cinnamon, a dash of Nutmeg, Soy Milk, Brown Sugar, and a few Plumped Craisins and/or Raisins, a hearty bowl of warm, steaming, creamy and delicious cereal hits the spot in the morning!

Craisins and Raisins always taste so good. I like to give them a tad extra flavor by soaking them in Apple Juice. A one-cup Ziploc container of each fruit soaking in apple juice is usually found in my fridge. Sometimes, I use Cranberry Juice. Quite often when baking, I will add them to a recipe.

To Prepare Plumped Craisins/Raisins –
Place about ¼ cup dried fruit in 1 Cup Ziploc container. Add Apple Juice to cover dried fruit. Cover and refrigerate for 1 – 2 days. Use within 2 weeks.

Oatmeal is one food where these plumped fruits are added for nutrition and for taste. I will share more, another time.

Do you enjoy raisins/or craisins in oatmeal?

Oodles of Oats

As fall approaches and the mornings become a little chillier my round container of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats is opened and the contents are used often. Creamy Cranberry Oatmeal is a hearty, nutritious, delicious breakfast. Some mornings I prepare it with Raisins rather than with Craisins. The container empties quickly.

One day as I was walking down the cereal aisle at our local Costco I discovered a very large box of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. You might ask - would I ever use that many oats? The box just looks so large. Well, that hefty wonderful box contains two individual plastic bags holding a staple of my kitchen. I have learned that purchasing the large box works so well. After I open one of the generous bags, I pour the oats into three smaller containers and place the lid on the top for storing. No longer do I wait for oats to go on sale at our local grocery store and purchase a few containers.

Recently while visiting a family member in NYC we stopped at a Costco in Brooklyn. The two level Costco was fascinating. I never realized that some of the stores were that large!

After peering into other shoppers’ carts a smile appeared on my face. Many consumers had that large box of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats in their carts. Some scrumptious cookies, pancakes (click on links) and muffins require oats. That large box is used quicker than you might believe.

Enjoy!

The Season for Cooking with Oats

The mornings are a tad chillier now that September is here. Earlier today a warm bowl of Creamy Cranberry Oatmeal tasted so good for breakfast! After enjoying the leisurely pace of summer, it is time to get back to cooking with oats. Tomorrow morning the aroma of Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes with blueberries will fill my kitchen. Yes, any extra pancakes will be frozen and enjoyed at another breakfast. Have you made them? Oatmeal Pancakes are delicious and with blueberries added to the batter on the griddle – Yummy!

Enjoy!

Mailing Homemade Cookies

Receiving a box of homemade cookies in the mail is such a great treat! For a special day or if a member of your family is in college, this unexpected gift is ALWAYS WELCOME just before FINALS! Last week a box of Craisin Raisin Oaties was mailed to our son in NYC.

Supplies: Cookies, (2) gallon size Ziploc Bags, & 1 container of Paper Muffin Liners.

Open Ziploc bags. Place 1 Ziploc Bag inside the other and place flat on a table. Then put each cookie on a Paper Muffin Liner. Stack 4 cookies high & place in the bag. Usually, 12 – 16 cookies will fit in the Ziploc Bag. Now, carefully remove any excess air in the inner bag and then zip. Then zip the outer bag. Place these treats inside a crumpled newspaper lined addressed box. Tape the box and it will be ready to go. After mailing the box of treats will be on their way to a very happy recepient.

Oatmeal and Cholesterol

Four months ago I was advised that I needed to LOWER my cholesterol, so I started to pay more attention to the Oatmeal commercials on television. We have all seen them … an individual proudly states that he/she has eaten a serving of oatmeal cereal every day for 1 month and the result is a lower cholesterol reading. Knowing that I would tire of that particular breakfast every day, I decided to eat oatmeal every other day. My breakfast would be either “Creamy Cranberry Oatmeal”, Creamy Oatmeal made with raisins or Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes. After eating this breakfast for 3 months, I, JG, am a believer! I can proudly state that I have lowered my cholesterol 23 points in 3 months by eating a breakfast with oatmeal every other day! WOW!! And … I am still enjoying my healthy oatmeal every other day.

Creamy Cranberry Oatmeal

A bowl of hot Creamy Cranberry Oatmeal tastes delicious on a cold morning. Yes, I use the old fashioned oats when I cook. Using the recipe on the oat container, place the required amounts of “old fashioned oats”, milk (rather than water), “apple juice cranberries”, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a pot and let sit for 10 minutes before preparing on the stove. Then, I usually set the timer for 8 minutes and start cooking and stirring. By following this method I have learned that the oatmeal is creamy after it is cooked. In my refrigerator a 1 cup Ziploc container containing dried cranberries soaking in apple juice and another container of apple juice raisins will be found. This is a delicious breakfast!