Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bake

I love breakfast foods, but I can never get myself to eat when I first wake up or even before I leave for work.  Inevitably, I find myself searching for a snack mid-morning to satisfy my hunger.  I believe I've found the perfect solution: Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bake.  I love this!  I can take a serving of this deliciousness to work, pop it in the microwave to heat it up and enjoy a fantastic breakfast even after leaving home!

Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup brown sugar - we used Splenda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Chinese five spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups milk
1 egg
4 tbsp butter, melted
2 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray oven safe pan with cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the bananas together.  Pour into the baking dish and arrange the banana slices on top.  Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top if you choose.  Bake 30-40 minutes or until oatmeal is golden brown. 

Inspiration Recipe: Inspired Taste's Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate
 

Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

I think I've mentioned before that I love Mac & Cheese!  Its such a comfort when life gets busy and stressful.  Between the holidays and our busy schedules, we've not spent a lot of time at home recently.  Luckily, we had a some time at home today to relax and catch up on things around the house, so we decided to a slow cooker Mac & Cheese would be a perfect solution for dinner!  I ran across Crock-a-doodle-do's recipe and thought it sounded like a great foundation for our dinner tonight. 

Ingredients:
1/2 pound macaroni noodles, uncooked
3 1/2 cups milk
1 egg
4-5 cups shredded cheese, any flavor - I say 4-5 cups as I had 4 heaping measuring cups
Salt, pepper, garlic salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper - just a dash!
1 can chicken in water, drained
1/2 package of precooked bacon bits
1 cup frozen corn

Directions:
Against my better judgement, I didn't spray the slow cooker crock with cooking spray and I didn't use separate bowl for mixing.  Instead, I just threw everything in the crock and mixed it.  I cooked on low for about an hour and switched it to high for another half hour to make sure the noodles were soft.  After an hour and half cooking time, I turned the slow cooker off and let the mac and cheese cool for about 15 minutes or so.  The cooling time also allows the final juices to be absorbed.  We both at a bowl of mac and cheese and we have plenty left for dinner tomorrow.

While eating, we discussed adding broccoli or onion next time.  Or possibly more corn and bacon bits.  Or even topping with bread crumbs.  I'm excited about the prospective ideas! 

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake

My future husband loves rice, and I love Mexican food.  When I came across this recipe from TastyKitchen.com I knew it was perfect for us! 

Ingredients:
4 cups brown rice, cooked
2 cups cooked chicken - we like Tyson's grilled chicken strips that are precooked as it saves time when we're in a rush
1 1/2 cup frozen corn
1 can black beans
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 can green chilis, juice only
1/2 cup chunky salsa
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese plus additional for for topping

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together, then transfer to oven safe bowl.  Top with cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

We've made this a few of times and haven't felt the need to make many changes from the original. We've increased the corn and decided we like chunkier salsa. We've been throwing around the idea of adding onions, increasing the amount of black beans, or forgoing chicken to change it up a little.  With or without the changes, this is a super easy and tasty recipe!

Past Projects

Wow!  So much has happened since I last posted on this blog!  After a family illness, vacations, engagement, lots of overtime at work, and other life events, I'm back and hoping to do a much better job at documenting my crafting, cooking and everything in between.

So here are a few projects I've finished over the last several months.

I made this spring wreath using the same idea of my St. Patrick's Day wreath.  The yard wrapped wreaths are such an easy way to spruce up the front door for any holiday! 

My First Quilted Wall Hanging!  I returned the pattern to its originaly owner and can't recall the designer.  But I'm super happy with the outcome of this project!

 

 

This T-Shirt Quilt was made for my fiance for his birthday.  He had so many shirts from his college days that he had a hard time throwing out.  My alternative: design a quilt with his favorite shirts.  Special thanks to my mom for all her help with this project!  It was quite overwhelming for me as one of my first projects, but my mom stepped in and shared her expertise with me on this special project.

 

 

I've yet to find or design a decoration for our front door for the summer time.  This year, I opted to make a neutral yarn wreath for off season times.

 

 



Next is a fun Halloween decoration made with random fabrics from my mom's fabric scraps.  The pattern is called October Scare and is super easy to make.

 

My most recent project is a fall color wreath.  Unfortunately, the colors in this photo aren't great.  Instead of yarn, I opted for Jute to wrap the wreath form.  The flowers were both felt flowers and flower embellishments I found in the scrapbook section in orange, brown, green and burgundy. 

I'm so grateful to my mom for introducting quilting and crafting to me.  They provide such an outlet and find both incredibly relaxing.  I've got a few project in progress and I hope to share them soon!

 



 



 

 



Yarn Wreath - St. Patrick's Day

I love St. Patrick's Day!  And I love decorating for it!  After seeing Take Heart's yarn wreath tutorial, I knew it would be perfect for a new St. Patrick's Day decoration!  First step: Hobby Lobby!

Supplies:
Yarn - I used Naturally Caron.com Spa yarn since it had the green I liked the best.  It's 251 yards.
Straw Wreath Form - Leave the plastic on.
Felt
Scissors
Hot Glue
Embellishments - Optional.  I chose a leprechaun I found in the craft section.

Directions:

First, wrap the wreath with the yarn.  Tie it at the beginning and you can wrap right over the knot.  It'll take some time (about two hours!), but its a perfect activity for catching up on missed tv shows. 

When you get close to the end, add a loop to hang the wreath.  You can really add this at any point you'd like.  I also tied the end of the yard to the loop to tie it off.

After finishing the wreath, I wanted to add some St. Patty's Day flare: felt flowers and a cute leprechaun embellishment. 

To make the flowers, cut a curvy edged circle like so:

Pick a place and start cutting in a spiral shape for a long strand of fabric.  Make sure to leave an oval shape at the end for the base of the flower.

Take the end of the felt that you began cutting and roll.

Keep rolling until you're at the end.  Using the hot glue, paste the oval shape over the bottom to hold the flower together.

Finished flower:

Make as many flowers as you'd like.  Once you've finished your flowers, you're ready to hot glue them and any additional embellishments onto your wreath. 

I love it!  And I'm excited that I have a month to display it! 





Two-Ingredient Fudge

I ran across this recipe on Cookies and Cups blog a few weeks before Valentine's Day and was super excited about making it for the boyfriend.  Unfortunately, due to an illness in the family, the recipe was put on the back burner - until today.  It's super simple and yummy! 

Ingredients:
1 can strawberry frosting
1 package white chocolate chips
You'll also need: cooking spray, cake pan, microwave-safe bowl and spoon

Directions:

First, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave following the package directions (you can also melt via broiler).

Once the chocolate chips are melted, add the strawberry frosting and stir evenly. 

Spread into your prepared pan.  You can add designs, sprinkles or any other topping you choose.

Refrigerate for about half an hour to set.

Cut into squares or any shape you desire and serve.  Store in air tight container for up to a week. 

Want something other than strawberry?  Just alter the flavors of the chocolate chips and frosting and you're good to go!

Bacon-Spinach Grill

The last few weekends have been crazy and have left Troy and I on weird eating schedules.  We're neither one hungry at the same time resulting in one person meals.  We had the ingredients for this quick meal and I decided to try it out.

Ingredients:
Tortilla
Fresh Spinach
Feta Cheese
Bacon
You'll also need Cooking Spray and a hot skillet.

Directions:
First, I made the bacon.  I almost always use the microwave for cooking bacon.  While it was cooking, I heated the skillet and laid out the initial part of the dish.  Put spinach and feta, whatever amount you prefer, onto half of the tortilla.

 

When the bacon is done, lay it on top and fold the tortilla in half.  Place in skillet and grill evenly on both sides.  Pretty simple, yet delicious!