PROATS

 There are times when I feel I could eat out every meal. You? Well, that lasts a few days until I find myself not really knowing where I want to go or what I want to eat.

I know this is a crazy way to start a post to grab your attention, but that's where I am (at) right now. 

I really wasn't looking for something to eat, but I didn't know what I wanted to eat for breakfast and was just scrolling through Facebook to see if anything had happened overnight or if a friend had posted something meaningful. I ended up checking out an ad (there are so many on Facebook now) that really wasn't an ad, but just an article from Women and Health on 50 healthy things to eat. Most of them weren't recipes per se - you know listing the ingredients and then what to do with them. I had to read the paragraph to read about it. 

There emphasis was on added protein to fill you up so you could make it to lunch without getting hungry and snacking. I missed some at the beginning because I didn't write down the information on the breakfast, but I did manage to get three written down before I lost the article.

With nothing better to do and my husband giving me a kiss goodbye before leaving to go play golf, I decided I would try one of them.  Proats is short for Protein Oatmeal. I had all of the ingredients and it didn't take much time at all to make it, so it won out over the other two. I will have to try them another day.

The "recipe" just called for rolled oats so I used Old Fashioned Oats. That gave the dish a little rougher taste than using the quick oats, but I might try quick oats sometime to see how I like the texture. Since they suggested adding nuts, berries, chocolate chips, or seeds on top, I did break up some pecans and added a spoonful of sea salt & caramel chips to mine.

The result was a different sorta breakfast for me (which is what I was wanting) and it did fill me up so I went until lunch without any snacking.

PRINT RECIPE.

PROATS or PROTEIN OATMEAL

1/2   cup milk (I used skim milk)

1/3   cup rolled oats (I used Old Fashioned)

pinch of salt

1      beaten egg

berries, nuts, chocolate chips, or seeds (optional)

In a medium sized microwaveable bowl, combine the milk, oats, and salt.

Cook on High for 1.5 minutes in the microwave. 

Remove from the microwave and stir in the beaten egg.

Return to the microwave and cook for another 30 to 45 seconds. I cooked mine the 45 seconds. (The very center of mine hadn't completely cooked, 

so I stirred the mixture and cooked for 15 more seconds.)

Can top with berries, nuts, chocolate chips, or seeds if you like.

Enjoy!

UPDATE...

my breakfast thus morning. Topped it with some unsweetened coconut, sugar-free dark chocolate chips, and broken up pecans. Yummy

I ended up taking a walk in the neighborhood and then came back and sat in my swing and enjoyed the breeze and my flowers I have recently planted. Oh! And the birds singing. There were so many. 

I also received a text from my granddaughter Madison and we "talked" for a while. All-in-all it was a very enjoyable morning.

FUDGE-TOPPED BROWNIES

 Once again this past Sunday I found myself in a familiar situation of not having all of the ingredients for the recipe I had planned to make to take to Hillcrest Thrift Shop and once again I had to try to find something else to make that would be fast and easy. I settled on this recipe I had loose in a recipe-to-try folder.

It was fairly fast and definitely easy and most importantly a big hit at the thrift shop. It was supposed to make 36 to 40 brownies in just a 9 x 13 - inch pan. That read "rich" to me so I didn't cut them into my usual 24 servings. I figured if anyone wanted some extra "rich" they could just take two pieces. I ended up taking Friend Fran five brownies since I did have a few extras. I was running late because I was waiting on the gas technician to come check for a gas link in the laundry room so I missed the first morning break the volunteers usually take. One volunteer remarked that the icing was thicker than usual and another volunteer told her that was the fudge. It is important to serve the brownies at room temperature so the fudge isn't too hard. I chilled the pan in the refrigerator overnight and that was a little too long.

FUDGE-TOPPED BROWNIES 

1     cup butter, melted

2     cups sugar

1     cup unsifted flour

2/3  cup cocoa

1/2  teaspoon baking powder

2     eggs

1/2  cup milk

3     teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

1     cup chopped nuts, optional (I did omit.)

1     (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used mini-chocolate chips)

1      (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or spray a 9 x 13 - inch pan.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, eggs, milk, and 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla; beat well.

(I just combined the dry ingredients with a whisk,

then the wet ingredients, and

finally mixed the two together with a spatula, but

did end up beating the batter on medium for a bit.) Stir in nuts, if you are using them.

Spread batter in the baking pan.

Bake 40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Just before the brownies are done, melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and the vanilla extract. You can do this either in a heavy saucepan over low heat or in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave stopping to stir every 20 seconds until melted.

(I did the latter and heated it for a total of 40 seconds stirring after each 20 seconds.

I stirred the mixture after the second time until

all of the mini-chips had melted.

Then I added the vanilla extract.)

Immediately spread over hot brownies. Cool. Chill.

Cut into bars. 

Store covered at room temperature.

S'MORES IN A MUG

You know those times when you just want a little "treat"? For me, that usually means "chocolate"! 

I recently saw several recipes from Betty Crocker for treats in a mug. I tried the Cinnamon-Banana-Nut Mug Muffin and it was very really good. I would definitely recommend it. I actually ate it for breakfast. The recipe makes two so my husband also was able to enjoy it.

The other one that really caught my eye was called S'mores in a Mug. It sounded even better than the banana one, but in a different way. This one sounded truly like dessert but in a smaller portion.

Well, I made it Friday night and immediately wanted to make another one. (This recipe only makes 1 serving.) BUT I stayed in control. I just fixed another one Saturday. 

I think this will be one of those "go - to" recipes when I don't have anything sweet in the house and want just a little treat. The recipe makes one serving.

S'MORES IN A MUG

1/3       cup dry fudge brownie mix
1           tablespoon fat-free liquid egg product
1           tablespoon oil
1           teaspoon water
2          tablespoons miniature marshmallow (It's hard to measure. I just took out a few.)
2          teaspoons crushed graham crackers
1           teaspoon miniature chocolate chips

Spray a mug (no more than 12 ounces) with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, stir the brownie mix, egg product, oil, and water til smooth.

Pour into mug and 

cook in the microwave on HIGH for about 45 seconds. You want the top to be set and a toothpick to come out almost clean when inserted in the center.

Immediately top with the chips, cracker crumbs, and marshmallows.

Let stand for 1 minute.

Eat immediately!

Trust me...it won't take you long to eat it all up.

CINNAMON BANANA NUT MUG MUFFIN

I am on the email list for Betty Crocker and receive recipes several times a week. Often it appears that the recipes are new. I say this because there will be no reviews and ratings. 

Last week the featured recipes in one of the emails I got was for four or five different "mug" and microwave treats. I checked them out and decided there were two of them I definitely wanted to try.

Saturday after getting home from walking in the Y with my friend Janice, I noticed my husband had not used all of the egg beaters. He told me I could use them if I needed to. He meant for me to make an omelet or something, but I told him I had another idea.

Well, the Cinnamon Banana Nut Mug Muffin are just the cutest thing! Besides being low calorie, they are so delicious. I even made them using stevia instead of sugar. I wanted to use more than a tablespoon of chopped nuts, but I didn't. If you like nutty muffins though, I would say go for it. 

One thing I really like about these little muffins is you make them up when you want to eat them. You don't have a mix that you store and forget about. I can't wait to try the S'mores Mug one. Will let you know how it turns out.

I do have to say that the picture Betty Crocker used was misleading. They said to use a 12-ounce mug and then their cooked muffin almost filled the mug. You might want to use a smaller mug/cup if that is what you want. My finished muffin filled maybe half of the mug if that much. BUT it was delicious....and just the right amount for me.

CINNAMON BANANA NUT MUG MUFFIN

1/3       cup biscuit mix
3          tablespoons sugar (stevia works fine)
1/4       teaspoon cinnamon
1/4       cup mashed banana (about 1/2 banana)
1           tablespoon butter, melted
1           tablespoon egg beaters
1/8       teaspoon vanilla
1           tablespoon chopped nuts

Spray a 12 - oz mug with non-stick cooking spray.

In a bowl, combine the biscuit mix, sugar, and cinnamon.

Add the banana, butter, egg beaters, and vanilla.

Stir til well mixed.

Stir in the nuts.

Divide the batter evenly (about 1/3 cup) between the two mugs.

Cooking one at a time, cook on HIGH for 45 - 60 seconds. The top will be set and the muffin will be pulled away from the sides of the mug.

Rest it 1 minute and then enjoy it warm right from the mug. You can drizzle a little melted butter on top if you like.

Delicious!