I want more breakfast!

So I was watching the Food Network yesterday (what else is new) and in an attempt to find a healthy, grab-n-go breakfast option for Scott, I turned to Ellie Krieger. She had a whole breakfast show on yesterday, so it was both entertaining and educational. I watched her make these Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars and thought, That looks pretty darn good! I knew though in my own breakfast bars that I had envisioned making that they had to include peanut butter. Mmm, peanut butter. . . I also prefer pecans over walnuts for most recipes, and can't STAND cherry anything. So, here's Ellie's recipe below, with my own changes in italics:

Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ -- 1/4 cup toasted oat bran, because that's what I had!
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey -- 1/4 cup honey and a little less than 1/4 cup agave nectar, because I ran out of honey. . .
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (mine is 365 brand with just peanuts and salt)
  
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 egg, beaten to mix
• 1 egg white
• 3/4 cup chopped dried tart cherries -- 3/4 cup raisins
  
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts -- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  
• Cooking spray
• 1/4 cup "fruit only" apricot preserves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheat germ/oat bran, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the honey, peanut butter, applesauce, oil, egg and egg white until well combined. Stir in the oatmeal mixture until well combined. Add the dried cherries/raisins and walnuts/pecans.

Coat an 8-inch square baking pan (I used a 9" because I increased the amount of batter with the peanut butter) with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Put the preserves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, brush with the preserves. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars, about 4 by1 1/2 inches each.

Per Serving

Calories 230; Total Fat 9 g; (Sat Fat 1 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 4 g) ; Protein 4 g; Carb 34 g; Fiber 2 g; Cholesterol 20 mg; Sodium 60 mg

Excellent source of: Manganese

Good source of: Thiamin

Of course I'm not sure the above nutritional information is correct anymore, but let me tell you, these bars are freakin' DELICIOUS! I'm totally addicted to them. So whether it's for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert, I highly recommend making them. The only question is what to call them since they're clearly not Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars anymore. . . Peacan Peanut Butter Goodness? Oh My God I Can't Stop Eating Them Bars? Anyway, just make them. How can you not?!

A Breakfast of Champions

With Jenni's big event next weekend in mind, I thought it was about time that I posted something about my latest breakfast creation.

I'm not a big fan of breakfast. It's been hard for me to find something I like other than toast. Toast is great and all, but all of the fat and calories from the "butter" I use (the vegan butter spread, Earth Balance) is still not ideal. I always have a piece of fruit to go with it, to make myself feel better I suppose. It's just too cold (especially in the morning) to eat cereal, so I thought I would try my hands at homemade oatmeal.

I've tried to make oatmeal in the past and I usually either force it down so I don't waste it (telling myself, It's healthy! Just eat it!) or if it's really bad, I do have to unfortunately throw it out. It took me about a week of making oatmeal every day to come up with the perfect formula, but I did it, and can now say that I make GREAT oatmeal. Don't worry, I'll share my secrets with you. What you want to do is replace the recommended water they instruct you cook it in on the package with HALF apple juice and HALF vanilla soy milk (which is naturally sweetened, unlike chocolate soy milk!) The result? Oatmeal that is perfectly sweet, still creamy, and delicious! I always cook the oatmeal with a few shakes of cinnamon too, some kind of fruit (blueberries might be my favorite) and sometimes a small handful of chopped walnuts. I also tried both the instant oats as well as the old fashioned, and I prefer the instant because it comes out creamier.

Perhaps this is one to try before, say, running a half marathon? I personally think it's great before teaching a bunch of dance classes, but maybe that's just me ;)