Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares :)

I know, i know.. its Wednesday not Tuesday. I was so busy yesterday I apologize :( but I am here now! Update on the weight loss--- I have lost 10lbs!! :) So i have to lose 10 more in a month to win the competition.... kinda getting nervous! My husband has to lose 9lbs!! This might be a close race!!

I decided I would post a healthy baked treat today since I never post dessert like things!
I got this recipe from http://gingerbreadbagels.com/2011/03/22/peanut-butter-banana-oatmeal-squares/
and she uses this for a breakfast. I feel it can be a good breakfast or a good dessert.

Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares!! 

Sorry for the bad pics....

 

 

 

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oat
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (i just used sea salt)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large mashed banana
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions
Mix together the quick cooking oats, light brown sugar, baking powder, kosher salt and ground cinnamon.
Add in the vanilla extract, milk and egg. Mix the ingredients together.
Then add in the mashed banana and peanut butter. Combine all of the ingredients.
Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 8 by 8 inch metal baking pan. ( i did mine in a different pan i do not have an 8x8)
Bake at 350 F degrees for 20 minutes.
Cut into squares and enjoy!


As you can see this is a very easy quick thing to make!!


Her blog shows amazing pictures of every step! However the only thing in her picture that was different then how my turned out... is hers look thin and crispy like... however they puff up like brownies or cake. Mine did turn out kind of dry but you can spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the top and drink a glass of a milk with it and they are great!! Plus the bonus of knowing they are not horrible for you!!  ( i apologize for the bad pics)



Enjoy!!!

Gouda, Onion Pizza

Hello again! Man Tuesdays sure come quick doing this blog!! Well for today I am posting a pretty easy pizza recipe that I got off of Recipe.com Magazine.

If you are looking for a fun date night idea please check out my other blog tierradawn.blogspot.com and if you happen to draw the letter G you can make this easy, inexpensive meal for dinner!!

Gouda Red Onion Pizza

 

• 2  Tbsp olive oil
• 1  large red onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 1  Tbsp. snipped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/4  tsp. salt
• 1/4  tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1  Tbsp. cornmeal (didnt use this)
• 1  10- to 13.8-oz. package refrigerated pizza dough (i used a pkged Boboli pizza crust cause we love them)
• 8  oz. Gouda or Edam cheese, shredded (2 cups) (i used smoked Gouda, ive never cooked or used gouda before.. probably my new favorite!)

   

   Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion. Cook until onion is tender but not brown, stirring often (5 to 7 minutes). Remove from heat. Stir in thyme, salt and black pepper; set aside. (So i was trying just to hurry and so I forgot to saute the onions and just put them on the pizza which turned out good but next time ill saute them!)

  2. Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with the cornmeal. Pat pizza dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle on the baking sheet. Brush pizza dough with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle pizza dough with cheese to within 1/2 inch of edges. Spoon onion mixture over the cheese.

  3. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degrees F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden. Cut into 12 pieces. Makes 12 appetizers.

   

  Here is how i did it: ( i have a tendency to take a recipe and totally change it!)

  So I used a Boboli Pizza Crust and I turned my oven onto 375 degrees. While it was heating up I put 2 Tbsp of olive oil on the crust, then I diced about 4-6 cloves of garlic and spread on the crust. I then cut up the red onion and placed it on the pizza. I decided to cut Cherry Tomatoes in half and place on the pizza. I then put the fresh thyme on the pizza. Sprinkled the whole pizza with Salt and Pepper. I sprinkled the Gouda Cheese all over the pizza and baked in the over for about 15 minutes. 

  It was a fabulous pizza and great for left overs. We paired it with a salad with vinaigrette dressing.  (however i forgot to take a picture of that, sorry!)

  Next time I will saute the onions!! 

  
  

  

  Enjoy!!!

  
  

Quick Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

Hello everyone!!! So i super apologize for not blogging last week. I was extremely busy and just spaced it! So i hope you have all had a great couple of weeks and a great mothers day!! My husband brought home flowers because i am a mom to our dogs! :) He is cute!
So on Saturday the 12th I was in a cooking competition called the Fud Fued and made Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I will give you all the recipe sometime. I entered in the appetizer category and received third place!!! A couple of the judges were The Food Nanny from BYUtv and Judge Jaxon who owns a cooking school in Park City. So it is kind of fun who they get. Last year I made chicken egg rolls and got third place as well. I received some fun prizes that i am excited to use :) All in all it was a fun experience that my husband. mom, step dad, aunt and a couple of friends were able to enjoy with me!
On the weight loss I have lost 6-7 pounds. I need to kick it in gear!!! Yesterday I started noticing where i might be losing weight...... ITS THE LAST PLACE I WANNA LOSE WEIGHT!!...... but oh well.

Anyway on to the recipe for today.... I have made a bunch of recipes in the past few weeks that i am so excited to share with you and some horrible ones i will share so you know not to try them!! But last nights dinner was sooooooo good I couldnt wait till today to blog about it......

Super Quick Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Serves Two (i always cook way to much pasta so i got enough for 3-4)
1 Large, ripe tomato (2 cups roughly chopped, 1 1/2 cups blended)
1/2 Cup Raw Cashews
1 Tbs Tomato Paste ( i did two TBSP)
1/4 Cup Water

2 Tbs Olive Oil
2-4 Cloves Garlic, minced, optional

6 Ounces (ish) Whole Wheat Spaghetti

1 tsp Salt
2-3 Tbs Wine or Water, optional
1-2 tsp Freshly Cracked, Coarse Black Pepper
1 Large Handful Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Once boiling add pasta.
Core the tomato, then roughly chop it. Add it to your blender, seeds, skin and all. Add cashews, tomato paste, and water. Blend until very smooth. (seriously blend for awhile)
Add olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.
Pour sauce from the blender into the saute pan and bring to a simmer.
Add salt and let cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If desired add wine/water to thin out the sauce. ( i did 3 Tbsp of wine, it cooks out)
Taste and season more if necessary.
Let simmer until pasta is finished cooking. (my pasta was done way before, so i drained it and let it sit)
Once pasta is cooked, drain.
Add pasta to the saute pan with black pepper and freshly chopped basil leaves. Toss to coat. Serve immediately, garnishing with more pepper and basil.
(i added a handful of parmesan cheese :/......)

So i was really nervous with this because my mom and i tried making a tomato basil soup with chopped on almonds and it was just soo chunky we couldnt handle it. So this sauce being made with cashews i was nervous... because even after i blended awhile it was still slightly chunky. WELL, the cooking it 4-5 minutes makes it soft and it was DELICIOUS!! My husband and I both ate it so fast!! 

Just ate the leftovers for lunch and it was soooo delicious!! Im so excited about this recipe!!  

We had ours with chicken that was marinated in a Lawreys Tuscan Dried Tomato Herbs and some Asparagus :)

Fruit Salad with a Honey Cinnamon Drizzle!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Hope you all had a great week! I went to Idaho and had a great time. Spent Saturday with Jessica! That was fun! For all you Idaho people who know this place we went to Big Judds Saturday night.... (it was my cheat on diet meal, cause i mean come on.. its Big Judds!!) I ate the burger so fast you would have thought its been months since i had a meal!
Anyway I am back to eating healthy and working out :) I told my mom last night that i am officially addicted to working out!! :) Im going every day this week except Friday cause it is date night :)
So i get back from Idaho yesterday and go to work out. Im debating on weighing myself, afraid of what the scale will say.... Well according to that scale Ive lost another pound!! So I have lost about 5-6 lbs now! I was in shock! I called Jessica to inform her that Big Judds didnt ruin everything! She was happy for me.

So for this competition we are all about at a tie right now of a weight loss of around 6lbs! So the pressure is building! Simon asked me last night what if we do not get to 20lb weight loss by July 1st... Im unsure of what we will do with the competition... extend the date? increase the lb limit to lose? I just dont know!

alright alright... I will get to posting a recipe now... Since you have all waited patiently for that delicious looking fruit salad I will post that recipe.

Fruit Salad with a Honey Cinnamon Drizzle

Ingredients

2 cups cantaloupe, chopped
1 cup strawberries, chopped
1 cup blueberries, chopped
2 kiwis, chopped
1 banana, sliced ( I did not put the banana in it. I was afraid if we could not eat it all the banana would go brown.)
1 cup honeydew melon
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon honey
1-2 teaspoons poppy seeds
dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Combine cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, kiwis and banana in a medium sized serving bowl. Add the honeydew, lime juice and honey to your blender and pulse or purée until smooth.( I was very skeptical of pureeing the honeydew.. but wow!!)

Add poppy seeds and cinnamon and lightly pulse until combined.

Toss dressing with fruit.

Chill for 2 hours before serving.

For just two of us we had a ton left over... Ate it for breakfast the next day and dinner again.

You probably won’t have leftovers, but if you do…

Save them in the fridge for the next morning, and make a fabulous green smoothie! Add a cup of this salad to your blender, along with 2 cups of spinach and 1/2 cup cauliflower (optional). Add 8 oz. water and a few ice cubes. Push the smoothie button and enjoy! ( didnt have the ingredients to try this) 

This was a huge hit with my husband and myself. I am planning to make it for big gatherings and stuff to. Very very good! 

 Hope you all enjoy!! I have been cooking away and have many meals and things to share with you! Cant wait!! 

Tierra