Category Archives: Food & Recipes

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares

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Yesterday I had a work event in the morning and we all were supposed to bring something brunchy. I knew one of the people attending was vegan and I wanted to make sure whatever I brought was something she could eat. These breakfast squares checked all the boxes! They are compliant, delicious, and made with pantry staples. I may not be vegan, but I will definitely be making these again.

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Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Keyword: healthy, vegan

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/4 cup almond milk (I used unsweetened vanilla)
  • 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, Be sure to leave some of the paper hanging over the sides to help you remove the squares when they're done baking. Set aside.
  • In bowl of your stand mixer, use the paddle attachement to thoroughly mash the bananas. Add peanut butter, applesauce, and almond milk and mix until wet ingredients are well combined. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and evenly spread. Bake for 25-28 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan at room temperature for about an hour and ten chill in the refrigerator for at least another hour (it is easier to cut the squares when they are cold).
  • Lift the parchment and bars from the pan and cut into 16 squares. Squares can be warmed in the toaster oven or microwave to take the chill off. Store leftovers in the fridge.

These were a big hit and I liked that they were not overly sweet.

Five Minute Frosting Recipe

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Let me tell you a little secret: I don’t really love frosting as much as other people do. In fact, I hear a lot of negative remarks about my favorite frosting, which is stabilized whipped cream. When it comes to something like buttercream, a little goes a long way for me and most recipes make way more than I care to use.

Yesterday I decided to make a chocolate cake — nothing exciting, just a Funfetti mix. However, I didn’t have any frosting in my cupboard and I really didn’t feel like making a big batch, knowing I only wanted to use a little. Well friends, Five Minute Frosting came to my rescue! Not only does this frosting come together super fast (five minutes is not an exaggeration), but it is rich and fudgy as well. I think this will be my go-to recipe in the future because I always have these ingredients on hand and it makes just the right amount to top a Bundt cake, which is my preferred pan (it cuts easy slices, and I love that)!

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Fudgy Five Minute Frosting

This frosting recipe comes together fast and makes just the right amount to top a Bundt cake or a small batch of brownies. For a standard cake or a thicker coating, you may want to double the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp boiling water
  • pinch salt optional

Instructions

  • Add softened butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt (if using) to a medium bowl. Add hot water 1 Tbsp. at a time, whisking until mixture becomes smooth
  • Frost cake, brownies, or cookies as desired. The frosting will thicken as it cools, so if that happens add a little more hot water.

Notes

The salt in this recipe is totally optional. I feel like the tiniest pinch enhances the chocolate flavor.
Replace the hot water with hot coffee for an even richer flavor. 

I think it would be easy to change up the recipe as well. Omit the cocoa powder and add a little flavored extract to create different flavors (or even add a couple drops to enhance the chocolate flavor — I bet mint would be delicious). I’m also curious about replacing the cocoa powder with PB2 for a peanut butter frosting. I will definitely be trying that in the future!

Bedtime Ritual

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Like many other women in their 40s, sleep can often be a problem for me. Sometimes I’m up for hours in the middle of the night, other times I can’t turn off my mind enough to wind down and fall asleep. 

I’ve found a few products that help me, but this is one of my favorites — the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra, which contains valerian. It might be mind over matter, but I swear it helps me relax and makes falling asleep much easier. And it doesn’t cause me to have weird dreams, which is a bonus! 

Menu Plan Monday, 2023 Week 6

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You guys, I am sorry for the lame posts the last few days, I have just been so busy during the day and by the time I think about blogging I am just wiped out. Honestly I barely even have a meal plan this week because Drew is travelling for work and I have barely even considered it. I’m throwing some ideas together but… I may very well just be throwing dinners together, LOL. I’ll see how the week goes. 

  • Sunday: Pot roast, mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli
  • Monday: Baked ziti & sausage, Caesar salad
  • Tuesday: Chicken curry, basamati rice
  • Wednesday: Tuna melts, cole slaw, French fries
  • Thursday: Take-out (?)
  • Friday: no idea 
  • Saturday: no idea

Friday night there is a dance, and my daughter is going and then her friend is sleeping over afterwards. Saturday, Drew and Noah will be in the city — Noah has his audition for Berklee. Thankfully no plans for Sunday, so hopefully it can be a day to relax!

Hope you all have a great week!  

Menu Plan Monday, 2023 Week 5

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I’m already two dinners into the week, but better late than never for my Meal Planning Monday post, right? Well, you’ll have to forgive me — we were dealing with some heating issues today (all fixed for now, thankfully). As you can imagine, I was otherwise occupied! 

Anyway, I wanted to mention that last week got thrown so off the rails. I am not sure why I even made a meal plan up because I barely followed it at all. We will see if this week goes any better! Hopefully it will.

Sunday: MYO pizza (we use an Aldi cheese pizza and everyone tops a quarter of it with their favorite toppings), Buffalo wings.

  • Monday: Drew’s marinara with hot Italian sausage, whole wheat spaghetti, Caesar salad
  • Tuesday: Rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Wednesday: Something in the Crock Pot – haven’t decided yet
  • Thursday: Cod piccata, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli
  • Friday: Probably take-out
  • Saturday: Copycat Texas Roadhouse Roadkill burgers, oven fries, garden salad

For baking, I have some tired bananas for banana bread will definitely be find its way into the oven on Wednesday. I also have a new recipe for Indian Lentil Soup that I want to try. I’m hoping it’s close the soup I used to get an a local Indian restaurant. 

Are you trying any new recipes this week?

Menu Plan Monday, 2023 Week 4

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Sunday: Bacon cheeseburgers, oven fries

Monday: Sheet pan Greek chicken & potatoes, salad

Tuesday: Meatballs & sausage, whole wheat pasta, steamed broccoli

Wednesday:  Chicken korma, rice, cauliflower, cucumber & onion salad

Thursday: Crock Pot beef stew, garlic-cheddar biscuits

Friday: Naan pizza, salad

Saturday: Buffalo chicken salads