Cavalcade of Cupcakes: Third Stop, A Turn for the Healthful

Welcome to the third and final stop on the 2010 Cavalcade of Cupcakes! The Triple Lemon Heaven cupcakes were rich, tart, and decadent. The rainbow cupcakes were a hit with kids and parents alike, and were also very rich and sweet. Two days of that much sugar demanded something a bit, how do I say this, healthier.

I’ve been baking oatmeal-based breakfast and dessert type snacks for as long as I’ve been nutritionally conscious, so about the last 5 years. I know how much some of us love our bowls of oatmeal in the morning, but not every morning has the time (or desire) to make a batch of stovetop oats, no matter how many people say “just get up 20 minutes earlier!” I’m sorry, I love my sleep!

Since this was the case, I started making baked oatmeal “cookies” and “muffins” as a grab-and-go breakfast option to enjoy in the car on the way to work. Not that I can’t enjoy a bowl of oatmeal in the car (yes I have), it’s just not easy. I’ve recently rediscovered how lovely these breakfasts are, and of course, you can adjust the recipe to suit your tastes. I’m calling these cupcakes, but in all honesty, they’re oatmeal muffins!

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Baked Oatmeal “Cupcakes”

Makes 12 “cupcakes”, 3 cupcakes per serving

Divide recipe by 1/4 for a single serving “cookie”.

Ingredients

* 4 c. rolled oats (old-fashioned or quick cooking, NOT instant)

* 2 bananas, mashed

* 4 egg whites

* 1 Tbsp. cinnamon

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1/2 c. nonfat milk or yogurt

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Allow to sit about 15 minutes for oats to soak up the wet ingredients. Scoop into a 12-hole muffin tin or form into cookies on a sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 400* until the tops are crispy and cupcakes are firm, about 20 minutes.

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One glorious serving of the entire batch

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These are satisfying, easy to make, healthy, and DELICIOUS! I loved topping mine with a bit of plain nonfat yogurt and strawberry, though nut butter or actual frosting would be delicious as well.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Cavalcade of Cupcakes!

I’m glad I thought to make these too, since camp starts again tomorrow and I’ll need easy breakfasts! I have a few guest posts lined up, as well as a cool giveaway, and a couple of easy recipes as well. Many of your favorites from last year will return, including the “Camper quote of the day” and “Wednesdays in Numbers”.

I’m always looking for guest posts as well, so if you’re interested, email me at guest-posts@imadedinner.net with your post and pictures, and it’ll go up on those super-busy-exhausting days.

Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday, and #TGIM!

P.S. Sorry for the lack of Cute Food Saturday yesterday! It was a crazy morning and the day got away from me!

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Steak House? No! Our House!

Today was one of those days that made me realize how lucky I am to be a part of this wonderful blogging community. Who else can say that they have friends from LITERALLY all over the country, many of whom they’ve never met in person??

I started my day bright and early by meeting up with two of my favorite bloggers, and girls who have been loyal readers and commenters pretty much since day one of this little blog of mine: Jenn and Caroline! We met up with each other at a childhood favorite restaurant of mine, Walker Brothers Pancake House, and as usual, the line was out the door. Luckily, they got us in and seated quickly!

I got a mushroom omelet, fruit, and a side of bacon. I only ate the strawberries out of the fruit cup…

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Walker Bros. was the first place I ever remember going that had amazingly fluffy baked omelets, instead of the flat and folded over ones of so many greasy spoon places. The bacon was, well, bacon…so it was awesome! The best part though was the company and conversation. Thanks so much for a great morning!

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From left: Me, Jenn, Caroline, and Caroline’s cousin

I’ve made an executive decision: all the bloggers I’ve met need to move to Chicago so that we can hang out on a regular basis.

Since I was so close, I stopped off at my mom’s house to show off the new camera, and of course, the lovely Stella was thrilled to be the subject of an impromptu photo shoot!

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She’s been watching Top Model!

I came home and vegged out for a while, because its Sunday…and then set out to the grocery store with my EnviTote for a few days worth of produce and ingredients for dinners. Much to my surprise and delight, 3 lb. bags of baby spinach were on sale, buy one get one free for $3.99! Needless to say, I then needed to stock up on Green Monster ingredients too… I had a very specific dinner in mind, hence the trip to the grocery store.

Last weekend for Valentine’s Day, I bought a bunch of ingredients for broth/bouillon fondue after we ate our cheese, and found that we were too full after the first course. The ingredients went into the freezer, and I wanted to use them today. What were these ingredients? Jumbo shrimp and filet mignon!

The steaks needed a simple preparation: just a sprinkle of salt and fresh ground pepper, then a quick sear in a pan and then a few minutes under the broiler.

The shrimp though, got the royal treatment… they got Scampi-fied!

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Shrimp Scampi
Ingredients
1 lb. peeled raw shrimp
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. dry white wine
juice of 1 lemon
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Directions
Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil, then the garlic. Cook a few minutes, then add the white wine. Reduce by half. Add lemon juice and shrimp and cook until shrimp are done, about 6 minutes. Add parsley, stir and serve immediately.

In addition, I made a batch of the same creamed spinach I made recently. In all, this was, as Adam said, like Wildfire at home. Remember Wildfire? We went there at the end of my first week of camp this summer, and it’s one of our very favorite steakhouses! To hear that I successfully recreated at home a similar meal as we enjoy out was one of the best food-related compliments I’ve gotten!
All together now:

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So, with a full belly and a sleepy head, and thoughts of snow days lingering in the back of my brain… I bid you good night!


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