Cranberry-Maple Slow Cooker Oatmeal (AKA Soupy Oatmeal)

Cranberry-Maple Slow Cooker Oatmeal (AKA Soupy Oatmeal)
From: Weight Watchers Weekly January 8-14, 2012

This is one of my kids' favorite breakfasts.  They call it Soupy Oatmeal.

8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats
2/3 cup chopped dried cranberries (I use Crasisns and I do not chop them, and I use 1 cup)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp table salt
3 TBSP Toasted, slivered almonds (we never use these)

Combine all ingredients, except almonds, in a 5-to-6 quart slow cooker.  Cook on low power for 4-6 hours, depending on desired creaminess.  Stirr well to combine and then sprinkle with almonds (if desired).  Yields about 3/4 cup oatmeal and 1 tsp almonds per serving.  Serves 9.

We like adding milk and cinnamon-sugar to the oatmeal in the bowl we serve it in.

6 points plus (weight watchers) per serving

I put the on before bed and it is not over done in the morning, and it goes 8-10 hours and does fine.

Alfredo Chicken

Alfredo Chicken

1 jar Alfredo Sauce
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (2 or 3)
Hot Cooked Spaghetti Noodles (or whatever kind of noodles you like)

Spray crockpot with cooking oil.  Put the boneless skinless chicken breasts in (you can put them in frozen), pour the Alfredo sauce on top (I rinsed out the jar with a little water and poured it in on top).  Turn the crockpot on low 6-8 hours (if it is longer and they are frozen no big deal).  Shred the chicken up, pour back in the crockpot and stir it all up together.  Serve over the cooked spaghetti noodles (or whatever noodles you like).  We served this with breadsticks.  It was good!

Corn and Black Bean Salsa Chicken

Corn and Black Bean Salsa Chicken

1 Jar Corn and Black Bean Salsa
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Optional: Tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, Tortillas, chips (basically taco/fajita fixings)


Spray crockpot with spray. Place chicken breasts on bottom.  Pour the jar of Corn and Black Bean Salsa over the top.  I rinsed out the jar with a little bit of water and poured it on top.  Bake at low minimum 6 hours or so (you want to make sure the chicken is cooked through).  Take the chicken out of the crockpot.  Shred it up, throw it back in the pot and stir it around.  If it is really soupy, take the top off the crockpot for a little bit to get some of the soupyness out.  Serve on tortillas or over chips, with tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, or whatever you like on your tacos/fajitas.  This will feed about 4 adults.

Breadsticks/pizza dough

Breadsticks/pizza dough
From: Don't remember

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 TBS instant yeast
2 TBS sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt

Mix water yeast and sugar together till dissolved. Let it rest 5 minutes or so. Add in the flour and salt and mix well (it says kneed for 3 mintues, i just use my kitchen aide mixer for like 3 mintues and don't hand mix too much). Let it rest about 10 mintues and the shape however you want. I have use this dough for breadsticks, pizza dough, pepperoni roll dough, and cinnamon pizza dough.

Bake at 375 degrees for however long you need to for whatever you are making.

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
From: The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook

2 large eggs
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 TBS baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups blueberries
2 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 X 13 inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mising bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, sugar, and milk. Stir in the oats, baking powder, and salt . Fold in the blueberries. pour into greased baking dish. In small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture over the top. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.

One of our favorite breakfasts

Peanut Butter-Ganache Bars

Peanut Butter-Ganache Bars
Recipe from: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/10/04/peanut-butter-bars-with-ganache-frosting/

These won 1st place in the SEP Soup du jour November 2011

Ingredients

Crust

1 box devils food cake mix

1/3 cup butter

1 egg

Filling

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar (about l lb)

2 tablespoons milk

3/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts, chopped, if desired

Ganache

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

1 cup milk chocolate chips (6 oz)

1/2 cup whipping cream

Step 1:

Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients; press in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 2:

In large bowl, mix all filling ingredients except peanuts until smooth and well blended. Stir in peanuts. Spread and pat filling evenly over cooled crust.

Step 3:

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave ganache ingredients on High 1 minute. Stir with whisk; microwave about 30 seconds longer. Stir again until mixture is smooth. Spread ganache over filling. Let stand at room temperature until set and completely cooled, 2 to 3 hours. Cut into 4 rows by 3 rows.

Makes 12 bars

Marinated Tuna Steaks

Adapted from: Allrecipes.com

This is the 1st time we have ever cooked or had Tuna Steaks. These were AWESOME! We all love them. Will be having them again!!

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp parsley
  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• Tuna steaks (we did 3 because that was what was in the package)
  

Directions

1. In a large non-reactive dish, mix together the soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Place the tuna steaks in the marinade and turn to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Preheat grill for high heat.
3. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook the tuna steaks for 3 1/2 minutes, then turn and baste with the marinade. Cook for an additional 4 1/2 minutes, or to desired doneness. Discard any remaining marinade.