Brownie Baked Oatmeal

I truly love oatmeal, any time of day. 

Especially since I learned I can make CHOCOLATE oatmeal. 

YES! 

I found this tasty recipe at Thriving Home blog where two moms, Polly and Rachel, share healthy recipes and tips for parenting and home management.  I think these young moms are a vault of wisdom and I really enjoy their posts and content.  They created this lovely recipe!

These gals share a lot of cool ideas, like...How to make a 5-minute fabric flower, 
How to make your own non-toxic foaming hand soap, or simply how to 
Resolve Conflict ...lots of practical stuff!! 

It's quite healthy too...with fiber (oatmeal), calcium, protein, vitamin A (pumpkin), and even antioxidants from the dark chocolate. 

You can easily mix the wet ingredients together and the dry ingredients the night before, then combine the two in the morning just before baking. 

This recipe can also be easily cut in half for a smaller portion. 

• BROWNIE BAKED OATMEAL 
• 
  
• 3 c. oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned)
• 2 Tb. flaxseed
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 heaping c. cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup honey or brown sugar
• 2 Tb. coconut oil (or butter), warmed
• 1/2 c. pumpkin puree (or mashed banana or applesauce)
• 3/4 c. (1%) milk (or fat free)
• 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• (or 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites)
• For Flax Egg Substitute, click here
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 – 1/2 c. dark chocolate (or peanut butter) chips, optional

       Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 In large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (the first six ingredients, through cinnamon).

In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (honey, oil, pumpkin, milk, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla).

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones. Mix well by hand.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into a greased 9" x 13" baking pan. Bake for about 22 minutes (or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean). Serve with warm milk on top, along with a dab of peanut butter or fruit. 

Linked to Weekend Potluck

Top 4 'Most Viewed' for 2012

I have really enjoyed seeing other bloggers post about their "Best" recipes for 2012.  

This lovely dish is the 'HIGHEST ALL TIME HITS' recipe...and it's wonderful! 

ONLY 3 INGREDIENTS! And it's a Weight Watchers recipe - you can't go wrong. 

Serve it to anyone and they will never know it's one of those 'healthier' dishes.

It's gorgeous too...just look. 

Weight Watchers Cherry Pie Fluff




Another recipe using 3 main ingredients....plus food coloring....
oh how fun!

Peanut Butter Pumpkins




This one had the most Pinterest hits..

Oven-Fried Bacon




Simple cleanup and very tasty....

Simple Crockpot Brownies



ENJOY!!!!!!!!

Tasty Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup (Weight Watchers)

Welcome to the first post of 2013 at The Better Baker!

WOW!  Did we ever imagine when we were kids we'd be writing (not to mention living in!) the year 2013? 

Trust you enjoyed a lovely holiday season.  It's such a busy time of year!
I really enjoyed my break and only got about half the things done that I had hoped to...but I missed ya'll!

It was definitely a time when I really overdid myself making dishes and indulging in them too!
(ARGH!)

Are you making any new resolutions or setting any goals for the new year?

Trying to be more organized?  I know there's lots of helpful hints on the web.  I have a closet and a few cupboards that need to be organized and cleaned out too. 

I also want to drink more water, move/exercise more, try to slow down as I'm always on the run, and I am excited that my daughter and I hope to published atleast 2 eCookbooks this new year! Always fun to dream isn't it? 

I'm thankful for a new beginning...to be able to 'turn over a new leaf' and get back on track to healthy eating.  I plan to share a number of 'healthier options' this month as I get focused on eating more veggies, fruit and fewer processed foods. 
I'm going to try a sugar-purge also.  I need to do that one badly!
{'skuse please if that's improper English!}

I have quite a few soup recipes in my drafts, but I decided I'd start out with this popular soup recipe that was a 'hot' one (pun intended=) in 2012! 

This Cheeseburger Soup is fabulously tasty and even includes WW points!

Even if you're not following that plan (I'm not either) it gives you a guideline. 

When I am in a rush, I will make it on top of the stove, but it's awesome making it in the slow cooker...letting it simmer while you're busy doing other things.  
Note that it does only take 2 - 3 hours in the slow cooker. 

SLOW COOKER CHEESEBURGER SOUP

2 sprays cooking spray

(I used a little olive oil too...WW wants you to have oil daily, soo)

1 medium garlic clove, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium stalk celery, chopped

1 lb. uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)

2 Tb. all purpose flour

(I used 3 because I like it thick)

3 cups canned chicken broth, divided

1 cup low-fat evaporated milk

8 ozs. Velveeta 2% reduced fat cheese, cubed

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

baked lowfat tortilla chips, crumbled

I also added a can of fire-roasted tomatoes - it gave it great ZIP!

Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over med-high heat for about 30 seconds.  Add garlic, onion, and celery; cook, stirring frequently, until veggies are tender, about 5 - 10 minutes.  Coat a 3-qt. or larger slow cooker with cooking spray; spoon in vegetables.  (A crockpot liner would work nicely too).

Place same skillet over medium-high heat and brown beef; breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 - 6 minutes; pour off any liquid and add meat to slow cooker.

In small cup, combine flour and 1/2 c. broth; stir until lump-free.  Pour flour mixture into same skillet; add remaining 2-1/2 c. broth.  Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits in bottom of skillet with wooden spoon, then pour into slow cooker; stir in evaporated milk, (tomatoes), cheese, paprika, salt and pepper.  Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 2 - 3  hrs. Serve soup topped with crumbled chips. 

Yield: 8 servings - 3/4 c. of soup and 3 Tb. of chips per serving

Weight Watcher points per serving: 5  (Prior to Points Plus)

And without my revisions...

Linked to Mop it up Monday Foodie Friends Friday GBP Roundup - Lightened Up Meal Plan Monday Whatcha Crockin Wednesday

Happy New Year!

CAN WE EVEN BELIEVE IT???

2013 is really here!!!! 

My best wishes to all of you in the new year.

Thanks again for your faithful support and love....

Oh how I look forward to spending time with you in the new year. 

Big Hugs! 

Marsha XO 

(a.k.a. - The Better Baker)

And a very Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

LUKE 2:11 - FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD!

JESUS! 

May you and yours enjoy a blessed CHRISTmas season and all the best to you in the new year!

Thanks a million for all your comments, love and support throughout the year.  It means more than words can express. 

I'm taking a break...will be back in my kitchen on January 2, 2013! Looking forward to spending time with you then....