{Super Simple Oatmeal Raisin Granola}

I think everyone needs a good granola recipe. This is my go-to granola recipe. It is simple and I always have all of the ingredients on hand.

I love to eat this as my morning breakfast cereal topped with organic milk and chopped bananas. It is also delicious all by itself, as a topping for yogurt or sprinkled on top of your morning oatmeal for a little added crunch!

Super Simple Oatmeal Raisin Granola 

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup flax seed meal
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsweetened raisins
• 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Add oats, coconut, flax, cinnamon and raisins to a large bowl. Stir and set aside. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter and honey. Microwave for 45 seconds or so just to soften. Stir well and pour over oat mixture. Stir until combined.

Add granola to sheet pan that is lined with parchment or sprayed with non-stick spray. Press with a spatula (or your hands) so that some of the pieces will stick together. **I like chunky granola 

Place in oven. Cook for 20-30 minutes stirring every 10 minutes until the granola is slightly golden.

Remove and allow to cool. Store in airtight container.

Have a great week!! 

{Super Fast Steel Cut Oatmeal for the Week}

SO you guys know that I am loving on some steel cut oatmeal lately....right?? I LOVE them and have made some form of steel cut oatmeal every morning for the past few weeks. They are so healthy and so delicious! I love eating warm oats on a cool morning! The only problem is that sometimes I don't have 20-30 minutes to cook breakfast in the morning. Sometimes I just need to grab something fast!! Well this is perfect for those of you that don't have a lot of time in the mornings! These are great if you are feeding a crowd or just want to make these on Sunday mornings and have them in the fridge to eat all week!

Steel Cut Oatmeal for the Week
adapted from: The Bitten Word

• 1 1/2 cups steel cut oats
• 6 cups water
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 small banana (mashed)
• 1/2 cup organic egg whites
• splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

In a large sauce pan, combine oats,vanilla and water. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cover. Allow this to sit overnight. 

In the morning, uncover the oats and bring back to a boil. Stir frequently and reduce to medium-low heat. Add in remaining ingredients. Stir the entire time while adding in the egg whites until well combined. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until oats are creamy, the water has absorbed and the oats still have a slightly chewy texture. 

Top as desired! My favorites toppings are chopped banana, raisins and maple syrup or chunky all natural peanut butter and honey! 

Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container to enjoy all week!

Enjoy!! :)

{Clean Eating Steel Cut Oatmeal}

It is kind of funny to me that I used to think that I didn't like hot oatmeal. Maybe I had never tried the RIGHT kind of hot oatmeal. I love overnight oats and I have enjoyed them all summer....but the temps are getting cooler at night and I want to wake up and eat something warm! I tried out this recipe from Running With Spoons and it changed my world!!! I have slightly tweaked it and played around with toppings. I have to say though...I have tried a few other recipes for hot oatmeal over the past couple weeks and none of them even come close to how delicious these oats are!

Clean Eating Steel Cut Oatmeal

• 1 cup water

• 3 tbsp. steel cut oats

• 1 tbsp. oat bran (or an additional tbsp. of steel cut oats)

• 1/3 cup organic egg whites

• 1/2 banana (roughly mashed)

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (or maple extract)

• dash of cinnamon

• 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (any milk will do) 

Bring water to a boil in a small pot over medium high heat. Once boiling, add in oats and oat bran. Stir and turn heat to medium-medium high. Allow to cook until all liquid has been absorbed. This will take about 10 minutes.

Add in egg whites slowly while stirring constantly. Next, add in mashed banana, vanilla, milk and a dash of cinnamon. Cook on low for another 10 minutes until oats are thick and creamy!

Remove from heat and scoop in bowl. Allow to cool and top with desired toppings.

My favorite toppings are:

- All natural crunchy peanut butter and a honey drizzle

-Almond butter and organic strawberry preserves

-Organic raisins and a drizzle of maple syrup

-Diced peaches and a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt

So tell me...

What are your favorite toppings for hot oatmeal???

{Clean Eating Pumpkin Bread}

I am a HUGE fan of pumpkin bread!! Love it! Every year when September hits....I am craving pumpkin bread!! I will have to say though...all of the pumpkin bread recipes that I used to eat were LOADED with sugar!!! Oh and loaded with oil!! Although that bread was delicious...I like to stay away from white sugar and vegetable oil these days!! I decided to come up with my own recipe for pumpkin bread and it turned out FABULOUS! The kids have been devouring this bread as well which is awesome! Every ingredient is nutritious! You can feel great about eating this and serving it to your family! Eat for breakfast, for a snack, or topped with some organic whipped topping for dessert!!

Clean Eating Pumpkin Bread

• 2 cups oats (Processed into a flour consistency using a food processor)
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 large banana (mashed) **about 3/4 cup
• 4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl and stir until combined. 

Place batter in loaf pan sprayed with coconut oil/ olive oil spray. **Can top loaf with a sprinkle of oats before baking to make it pretty!!**

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

{Microwavable Breakfast Cookie}

You all know that I love my overnight oats for breakfast...right?? Well I thought it would be a good idea to start switching my meals up a little. I wanted to find a way to get in my oats but in a quick and easy way! I also wanted something that my husband could make on his way out the door. I knew it would have to be microwavable and simple. This breakfast cookie is delicious! I could barely eat it because my kids were begging for bites! They loved it! It would be a great breakfast for kids or anyone! I made this is less than 5 minutes start to finish!! Everyone has time for that...RIGHT??

Microwavable Breakfast Cookie

• 1/3 cup oats (I used old fashioned but any kind will do)
• 1/2 banana (mashed)
• 1/2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 tbsp. milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
• 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. dark chocolate chips 

Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in a small saucer. Stir until combined. Shape into a cookie. Microwave uncovered for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and add dark chocolate chips to the cookie slightly pressing them in the top. Microwave for 40 more seconds. 

Allow to cool and DEVOUR! SO good! 

This whole cookie is only 230 calories! Packed with healthy fats, hearty oats and fruit! This is a perfect and portable breakfast! 

Try it and let me know what you think!!!

Omg...Delicious Breakfast Cookie

So the Fitnessista has done it again! Just when I thought her raw oat cereal had to be one of the best breakfasts ever...I am here to tell you that this recipe for her breakfast cookie is to die for! It's like dessert! I had to really remind myself that I was eating healthy oats, protein, healthy fats, and fruit! So good...and I love that you make it at night so there is no time needed in the morning! That is one reason I love overnight oats so much. I love knowing that breakfast is waiting on me in the refrigerator. Mornings can be kind of chaotic and I am always the last one to eat. This is perfect because you just grab and devour! It's perfection on a plate!

Here is a link to the recipe: Fitnessista Breakfast Cookie

Please do yourself a favor and try it! I mixed in organic raisins and topped with blueberries! 

What will you mix in??

{PB & J Overnight Oats}

I LOVE overnight oats! There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and your breakfast being ready for you!! I love putting chia seeds in my overnight oats. Great way to bump up the nutrition and the taste!

 The other night I was trying to mix up my favorite overnight oats and realized that I was out of bananas! WHAT??? So instead of going with my usual...I decided to switch things up a little. Let me just say...they were fabulous! Oh and what a great way to eat that last bit of peanut butter out of the jar!

PB & J Overnight Oats

• 1/4 cup oats (any kind will do...I used rolled oats)
• 1/4 cup puffed wheat (I used Trader Joe's brand which is naturally sweetened)
• 1 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
• 1 tbsp. all natural chunky peanut butter
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 5 drops Vanilla Creme Stevia Drops
• 1/2 cup strawberries (diced)

Combine all ingredients except strawberries in mason jar or container with lid. Stir until well combined. Refrigerate overnight. Top with diced strawberries.

Enjoy!