Baked Oatmeal with Berries, banana, and CHOCOLATE

OK...if you haven't checked out this Kirsten's blog, you NEEEEED to!  She is a wife and momma who, like many of us, is addicted to and pins away on Pinterest and rarely puts it use...I MEAN WHOA!!! SHE DOES!!! She runs a house, manages a toddler, and puts a pin to the test EVERYDAY!!!

So, I bet you can't guess where i found this pin??  HER BLOG! so i made it for breakfast this morning and um HELLO! amazingness!! and best of all...easy!!

I used her recipe tweaks:

PS... for some reason i didn't have baking powder... :-/ so a good alternate for 1 TEASPOON of baking powder:

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda

PLUS

1/4 teaspoon cornstarch

PLUS

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (i used the above alternate)
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice (I just used cinnamon.)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, chopped (I left these out because i don't like them.)
• 1 cup sliced strawberries (I used frozen mixed berries. I would definitely recommend this!)
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups milk (i used almond milk)
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. ***NOTE: I do not have a 10 1/2 by 7 inch dish so i used my 8 x 8...came out fantastically***

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, Chinese five spice/Cinnamon, salt, half the walnuts (if you use them), half the strawberries/berries mixture and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal). 

3. In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.

4. Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shimmy/shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.

5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds. Serve warm with an extra sprinkle of sugar or drizzle of maple syrup.

This smells REALLY GOOD when it's in the oven!!! it tastes UUUUUHMAZING!!! i just may make the dry ingredients as a staple on the kitchen counter because it's seriously really yummy!!!

Try it...check out Kirsten...HAVE A WONDERFUL TUESDAY!!!

-- LISA!

DIY Spider Repellent!!

OK...so i CANNOT be the only person who is scared of spiders...i don't care how big they are or how small they are or if they help kill other bugs or whatever...i DO NOT LIKE THEM!!!!

I've tried every spray out there and, yes, i step on them...i don't like them...did i say that already?

so i saw this on the all amazing...PINTEREST!!!

Source: streetarticles.com via Lisa on Pinterest

so i had to try it...mainly because there are spiders in the backyard where the dogs are and the kids go and the chemically stuff isn't so savvy with the pets and kids...

so the recipe calls for:

a spray bottle (i got mine at the dollar store)

natural soap (i just used the kitchen soap that is nice and thick)

pepperment essential oil

i added some water because the soap wasn't spraying great

um this stuff is AMAZING!!! i spray around my house and window sills once a month now...it kills the spiders and smells like christmas

i've read some articles that state lemon and other oils will work but i haven't tried them because most of the articles i've read say there is something about peppermint that they just don't like

AND another thing i've notice...

where there is a trail of ants (well unless it's from your trash can or some type of food)...there is usually a spider near by...yuck

this stuff does in fact totally work!! i don't know if my neighbors enjoy the smell but i don't have spiders so tooooooo baaaaaaaaaaad....MUUUUAHAHAHAHAHA <---that's my evil laugh ;-)

I hope everyone's weekend was wonderful!!!!

-- Lisa

Sweet & Sour Chicken

ok so...i think by now we've all seen this awesomeness on Pinterest:

Source: madeitateitlovedit.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

To start with, Made It. Ate It. Loved It. is a great blog with some fantastic recipes!  They are the masterminds behind the awesome chicken recipe.

The recipe calls for some things I did not have on hand so here is my modified recipe:

What I Used:

Chicken Breading:

5 chicken breasts cubed

salt and pepper

1 cup cornstarch

4 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup Olive Oil

Sauce:

3/4 cups sugar

3 Tablespoons ketchup

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions:

Breading the chicken:

Rinse and trim your chicken.  

Cube (about an inch) and put into a medium bowl. Salt and pepper those cubed chicken pieces and toss so their evenly seasoned.

Heat your oil in a large skillet.

While your oil is heating, grab 2 bowls and pour your cornstarch in one and beat your eggs in the other (i beat 2 at a time because the cornstarch gets pretty sticky in there).

Coat your chicken in the cornstarch and then evenly coat in the egg.

Sizzle that sucker in the oil until brown (about 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat and I flipped them).

Depending on your size of bowls for dipping and skillet, you could probably do at least 5 pieces at a time.

Place breaded chicken into a 9x13 baking pan and set aside..try not to snack on them or snack away like i did hahaha

SAUCE!! 

MMMMM

Once your chicken is done, heat your oven to 350 F. 

Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together until smooth and pour over your chicken.

Toss the chicken so they're evenly coated.

Place in the oven for 15 minutes and then take it out, toss the chicken and put it back in the oven for 15 minutes.

This is so good...and we had a ton of leftovers since dad isn't home haha.  I made couscous and steamed broccoli and this was sooooo yummy!!!

I'm definitely trying their Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken!!! 

Enjoy!!!

-- Lisa

Broccoli, Zucchini & Mushroom Pilaf

Broccoli, Zucchini & Mushroom Pilaf

OK so today we decided to eat with a theme…GREEN!!!  Picked by Emma of course haha

So we brought this HUGE zucchini home from Nona’s house yesterday and I used ½ and Emma LOVES zucchini and mushrooms so…broccoli, zucchini (green done), mushrooms and orzo pasta.  Orzo is my go to, quick pasta and it’s small so the kids love it almost as much as the little macaroni haha and it is beyond easy to manipulate.

Here’s what you need:

2 teaspoons olive oil

1-½ cups of chicken broth or a 14 oz can

1 or 2 zucchini (we used ½ of a HUGE zucchini so, depending on how much you like zucchini…go bananas haha)

2 cups of broccoli

1 basket of sliced mushrooms

2/3 cup of orzo pasta

salt (I used garlic salt)

pepper

Steps:

Chop your zucchini, rinse your mushrooms, and trim your broccoli.

Grab a large saucepan and heat up the olive oil on medium high heat.  Once the oil is hot (toss a mushroom or zucchini in there to check the sizzzzzzzle)…Put the mushrooms and zucchini ONLY in the oil and toss around until tender…about 3-5 minutes

Pour your orzo DRY into the pan and mix…This is a rice a roni step… stir until the pasta is a golden brown.

 

Pour your chicken broth in and your salt and pepper and stir.  Grab your broccoli and stir that in last gently.

This is the kind of chicken broth i use so i used 1 1/2 teaspoons with 1 1/2 cups of water aka 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth aka a 14 oz can :-)

Cover and let it simmer for about 12-15 minutes.

Once it’s done simmering…LEAVE IT COVERED and let it sit for about 5 minutes so it gets nice and thick and yummalicious.

THAT’S IT! One pan, one bowl meal…easy clean up too!  Next time (not “green” eating day haha), shredded carrots, onions, even chicken would be good with this!!!

ENJOY!

Lisa!