Chocolate Oatmeal

By: Pen-Pal Productions on 6:00 AM

Nommmmm.

I've been eating this for breakfast every single day and I can't get enough.  It's a bit like Kristin's Oatmeal Made Interesting recipe but instead uses banana and Almond extract.  The original recipe is from Chocolate-Covered Katie but I've adapted it a bit in that I don't use any additional sweetener and I've opted for Almond Extract instead of Vanilla (though it's delicious with both).

This recipe is easy-peasy.  It doesn't take any longer for me to whip it together and cook on the stove than it was when I was microwaving my oatmeal.  And it tastes like it should be the most horrible thing you could put into your body, but it's actually healthy!


Chocolate Oatmeal

1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Red Mill GF)
1- 1 1/2 cups milk* (I use Almond milk)
1 ripe banana
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp Almond Extract *swoon*
pinch of salt

*The original recipe says you can use water here too but I think it tastes significantly worse with water, not to mention the texture somehow becomes all wrong.  But, whatever floats your chocolate-covered boat :)  You can use as much or as little milk as you prefer to make it the right consistency for you.


Combine the oats and milk.  Add banana and mash together with oatmeal.  Add cocoa powder, almond extract, and salt.  Cook over medium-high until hot. Stir often.  Enjoy!

Read More

Tasty Tuesday: Gluten Free Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

By: Pen-Pal Productions on 6:00 AM

These are a bit of a spinoff of the Toddler Cookies, though I didn't have that intent when I was making them.  Basically, I was craving chocolate cookies but I didn't want the unhealthy aspects.  So what's a girl to do?  I modified this recipe from it's original version, found here.  I had full intentions of incorporating zucchini, but didn't end up doing so.  That's not to say, however, it couldn't be done, I just haven't tried it out (I'm sure it's fine).

1 1/2 cup oat or almond flour (I used oat, I'm going to use almond next time)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract.  Or both.  I loveeee almond extract)
1 cup GF oats
1 cup mini marshmallows (or regular, both are swell)

Also, feel free to add a cup of whatever else you like- nuts, dried fruits, etc.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cocoa  powder.  Set aside.

Using a mixer, mix brown sugar, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract. Add previously mixed dry ingredients.  Then mix in oats and marshmallows.

Spoon onto a baking sheet (I use an ice cream scoop), spacing cookies 2 inches apart.  Bake for 11-14 minutes or until they just barely pass a toothpick test.  Let cool and enjoy!

Read More

Tasty Tuesday: Nutella Ice Cream

By: Pen-Pal Productions on 6:07 PM

Happy Tuesday!

I love me some Nutella!  Obviously it's fantastic straight out of the jar, but there are so many ways to make it extra fancy.  Nutella ice cream is the easiest recipe ever (yes, even easier than Toddler Cookies.)  All you need are 2-3 bananas and half of a jar of Nutella.  Blend together, and freeze.  Devour.  Your'e welcome. 

Read More

Oatmeal made interesting

By: Pen-Pal Productions on 9:50 AM

Boring is the word that came to mind when I used to think about oatmeal. Spoonfuls of sugar couldn't help the bowls I would make for breakfast in the winter. Until I added cocoa powder.

Yep. Cocoa powder. For baking.

Looking for a few ways to jazz up your breakfast? Grab some cocoa powder, cinnamon/sugar, blueberries, jam, or peanut butter.

I mix one part cocoa powder to two parts cinnamon/sugar mix. (We make our cinnamon/sugar mix and keep it in a shaker). So whether you use a teaspoon or a tablespoon, just make sure you add more sugar than cocoa powder. Otherwise your oatmeal will taste like bitter chocolate. And that's just sad.

With your uncooked oatmeal in a bowl, sprinkle in cocoa powder and cinnamon/sugar. Mix it around to evenly coat your oats. Then add blueberries. Or strawberries/apples/bananas. Whatever you have frozen in your freezer or on hand in your fruit bowl. Add water, mix and microwave. Voila! The best tasting oatmeal you'll have.

When I ran out of frozen blueberries recently, I improvised with a spoonful of raspberry jam. Oh boy. Delicious! And you don't need to add sugar to that since the jam is already sweet.

S uses a spoonful or two of peanut butter when he makes oatmeal. He adds cinnamon but no sugar. When he uses cocoa powder, he won't add fruit because he doesn't like chocolate-y fruit. What??

So really, the customization is up to you. Never again will oatmeal be boring.

Read More

Tasty Tuesday: Black Bean Brownies

By: Pen-Pal Productions on 10:00 AM

Okay, okay, I know.  Brownies made out of black beans sound weird and disgusting.  But bear with me, these are fantastic.  I'm always on a mission to make something that I love, that is horribly unhealthy, and make it into something healthier, that I can (at least somewhat) guiltlessly indulge in.  This recipe is one of those things.  It turns a chocolate craving into something with at least some form of real sustenance.  Plus, they're egg and gluten free.  They look, taste, smell, and feel like real brownies, so really, what is there to lose?  Give 'em a try!

Ingredients:
2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cup oatmeal flour (just grind up 2 cups oatmeal in a blender)
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 12oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9x13in baking pan.

Puree black beans in a blender.  Add water and 1/3 cup applesauce, as needed, until smoothy-like consistency.

Combine black bean mixture, sugar, and remaining applesauce in a large mixing bowl.  Mix until well combined.

Add oatmeal flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Mix until smooth.

Stur in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan.  You can lick the batter with no guilt since there's no eggs :)

Bake for 25-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.


-Jenn

Read More