Oaty Goodness

Delicious ways to jazz up boring oatmeal.


Hot Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal

I love oatmeal in the winter months, it's so warm and comforting. My favorite way to prepare hot oatmeal is very simple and delcious!


Ingrediants and preperation:

Your preference of oatmeal; whether it be quick oats or old fashioned. Prepare it as instructed on the container. Normally it has instructions for with milk or with water. I chose milk simply because it adds more nutritional value which is important for your first meal of the day!

Apple sauce: I'm very picky about apple sauce. Apples are naturally very sweet so adding additional sweeteners is really unnecessary. Avoid those that add corn syrup or sugar.. or if you can't find ones that have very little added. Or if you want, make your own apple sauce. :) Add 1/2 cup of apple sauce per serving of oatmeal.

Pinch of cinnamon. Or if you have a cinnamon-sugar shaker use that to taste.

1/8 cup of Walnuts or Pecans- toasted. (optional)

And there you have it- Hot Apple Cinnamon oatmeal. Mmm, my favorite! You can also add slices of apple, dried cranberries.. it all tastes good! And more nutritious than the stuff you find in little packets. :)




Cold Oatmeal With Fruit and Yogurt



I know it sounds a little strange but it tastes great! This is not your typical yogurt parfait with granola and fruit.
Ingredients and Preparation:

Prepare 1 cut of old-fashioned rolled oats as directed on container omitting 1/2 the water. Your oatmeal will be a bit on the al dente side but that's how you want it for this recipe. While oatmeal is setting prepare fruit.

Fruit:
1 apple, diced (add a little lemon juice to diced apples to prevent browning)
1 banana, diced
1/4 cup currants
small handful of blueberries

Nuts: (optional)
1/4 cup chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans

Stir in fruit and nuts into warm oatmeal.
Season with a pinch of cinnamon, and tbs of brown sugar (optional).
Stir.

Let oatmeal chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator.
After 30 minutes stir in 2/3 cup of fat-free vanilla yogurt. Whatever brand you like most is fine. Mix until everything is blended and coated in yogurt. Cover and return to fridge until completely chilled (about another 20-30 minutes). Serves: ~4.

St. Patrick's Day delicious recipes

I'll be the first to admit that when St. Patrick's day rolls around I get a little carried away. I don't just mean green everywhere; I go all out with food and beverage and over-indulge in corned beef, cabbage, and Irish whiskey. Over the years I've collected and refined recipes for this holiday and I wanted to share these with you!





Baileys Irish Cream Copycat Recipe

This recipe is delicious and a lot cheaper than buying the real stuff!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Light cream (you can easily sub whole milk but it won't be as creamy)
• 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 2/3 cups Irish Whiskey (preferably Jameson)
• 1 teaspoon Instant coffee crystals
• 2 tablespoons Chocolate syrup
• 1 teaspoon Real Vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon Almond extract

Directions:

Just throw all ingredients in blender set on high speed for 30 seconds. Serve right away over ice or store in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Be sure to shake the bottle well before serving.

Makes ~4 cups.

The liqueur will keep for at least 2 months if kept cool.


Irish Soda Bread


Delicious toasted and buttered with fresh Irish butter. Perfect with any breakfast or with a hot cup of tea.

Ingredients:

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Make well in center of flour mixture. Add buttermilk. Gradually stir dry ingredients into milk to blend. Mix in raisins.

Using floured hands, shape dough into ball. Transfer to prepared pan and flatten slightly (dough will not come to edges of pan). Sprinkle dough with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake bread until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to rack to finish cooling or serve warm with butter.

Irish Potatoes (Candy)

Not really "Irish" but it is a traditional treat made and served in Pennsylvania for St. Patty's Day. I discovered these little treats while living in Philadelphia and now I need them every St. Patrick's Day!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

Makes ~4 dozen '2 bite' sized potatoes.


Shepherd's Pie w/ Guinness BBQ sauce


I've made dozens of Shepherd's pies and this recipe is one of my favorites. The meat is slightly sweet, smokey and full of flavor. I use a combination of meats including ground pork, turkey, and lamb. I also highly suggest trying with beef or veal!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 pound ground lean turkey
  
• 1/3 pound ground lamb
• 1/3 pound ground pork
  
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup Bulls Eye's Guinness BBQ sauce
  
• 1 zucchini, chopped to bite-sized pieces
• 1/3 cup corn (fresh or frozen is fine)
• 1/3 cup peas (fresh or frozen is fine)
• 1 carrot, chopped
  
• 5-1/2 cups mashed potatoes (prepare as you like or using butter, garlic, and buttermilk; I leave skins on for more flavor and texture)
• 1/2 cup Extra-sharp white cheddar cheese (optional)
  
• salt and pepper, to taste
• Additional butter, melted

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook all meats over medium heat until no longer pink; stir in bbq sauce and cook for another 2 minutes then set aside. In another skillet, cook onion, zucchini, carrot, peas, corn, garlic and oregano until onions are slightly translucent and veggies soft.
  
• Meanwhile, prepare mashed potatoes. Spread half of the potato mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Layer with beef mixture, veggie mixture and remaining potato mixture.
• Sprinkle cheese over top of pie.
  
• Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Brush the pie with melted butter (if you decide not to use cheese) and bake for 10 additional minutes. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Well, I hope you all try these recipes! Let me know what your favorite St. Patrick's day food and drink recipes!