Crock Pot Oatmeal

I know this isn't the right time of year, but my kids are crazy about oatmeal! They are also wanting to eat the minute they wake up, and are usually unwilling to wait the 5 or so minutes it takes for me to cook oatmeal for them. I stumbled upon this recipe, and it's perfect! I loved waking up this morning to a yummy smelling kitchen. Enjoy!

2 cups steel cut oats

4 cups water

4 cups milk (I used almond milk to give it a nutty flavor)

2 tsp cinnamon

You can also add in whatever... last night I put in sliced peaches and it was wonderful! 

I also like apples, craisins or raisins, walnuts, frozen berries, etc.

We sweetened ours with pure maple syrup (trying to switch from the usual brown sugar) and I really enjoyed that as well!

***BUDGET TIP***
Steel cut oats can be pretty pricey. I found a 25 lb bag of Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats at WinCo market for $20. That is a huge savings, and it is good for your food storage as well!

Fruit Salad

Since my cute sister keeps posting the unhealthy stuff, how about something sweet that it slightly better for you? Not only is this good for you, but it's a super easy recipe too. Don't believe me? This is literally all you need:

1 can fruit cocktail, undrained
1 can pineapple chunks, drained (save juice)
1 small sugar free Jello vanilla pudding
1 8 oz. tub light Cool Whip (or similar)

Put the fruit cocktail and pineapple in a bowl. Give the pineapple juice to the dog. Sprinkle the pudding on top and mix a little. Fold in the Cool Whip. Cover and chill for about 1 hour.
NOTE: Some people like banana flavored things. I'm not one of them. However, you can use banana pudding if that is something you like. I also add 1/2 cup flaked coconut if I happen to have some on hand.

Orange Rolls

My goal here is to post so many delicious recipes that you all can't resist, resulting in making you super fat, there for making me look not so bad. Here is a weapon of choice.....(and I mean that all in the nicest way)

1 package of Rhodes frozen roll dough
Butter, softened
Sugar
Orange zest
Powdered sugar
Fresh orange juice

1. Let the frozen dough thaw out on the counter for about two hours.
2. Once the dough is workable, but still cool, roll the dough balls into ropes and then tie a knot.
3. Dip the knots in softened butter.
4. Combine the sugar and orange zest with your fingers. Dip the buttered knots into the orange/sugar mixture.

:Ingredients:
5. Place rolls in a greased pan and let rise for at least 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, until they are golden.

7. Let the rolls cool. Make a glaze by combining powdered sugar, orange zest, and fresh orange juice. Whisk until smooth. I didn’t measure but you want the consistency to be a glaze.
8. With a spoon ice the rolls with the orange glaze.

Creme Brulee French Toast

This is what the Mr. is getting for Father's Day breakfast.


Ingredients

* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons corn syrup
* 1 loaf French bread-sliced 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick
* 5 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon brandy-based orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier®)-If you are fresh out of liqueur you can put in some, o.j. concentrate, o.j. with some grated rind or orange extract.
* 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and corn syrup, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Remove crusts from bread(or not), and arrange in the baking dish in a single layer. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, orange brandy, and salt. Pour over the bread. Cover, and chill at least 8 hours, or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the dish from the refrigerator, and bring to room temperature.
4. Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until puffed and lightly browned.

This is a perfect holiday food because it can be made the night before.

Salad Kit

I just thought I would share my current favorite thing to eat. It is perfect for summertime.

It is at Costso for $3 and some change. At Costco it is not spinach, it is a perfect lettuce mix, but I am sure it is great either way. It is a complete kit, making it super easy, and we love easy, right ladies:)

I.LOVE.IT!

Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

I had these at a baby blessing yesterday. They were so delightful, I had to track down the owner for the recipe.

Prep Time: 15 Min
Cook Time: 45 Min
Ready In: 3 Hrs

Ingredients

* 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
* 2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
* 1/4 cup honey


Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
3. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each piece into 9x13 inch rectangles. Press one piece into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough. Stir together 3/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Dot the mixture over the top of the cheesecake.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 squares.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Green Smoothie

This is for you Markey~

My 4 year old was getting a little whiney about having to drink his green smoothie, and wasn't finishing his up. Then I tried this smoothie from pg. 65 of the Green Smoothie Girl's Big Book of Smoothies (first that I have tried so far) I think that his whole, totally filled to the top glass was literally INHALED within a minute.

anyway, this is how I made it:

12-16 oz of filtered fridge water
2 bananas- frozen & chunked
2 scoops of peanut butter
several BIG handfuls of spinach
a small dash of agave nectar
1 scoop of chocolate powder- I don't know what it's called, but I got it from the self serve bins at good earth

the "real" recipe:

8 oz. water
1 banana
1 large handful of spinach
1 scoop chocolate protien powder
1 tsp peanut butter
2 ice cubes

They are basically the same... I doubled mine because it was for more than one serving. Also- I am a little leary of protien powder. Not sure why?