Cookies - For Breakfast? You bet!!

I never thought of having cookies for breakfast (OK, maybe that's not entirely true, as I probably didn't eat the most nutritious foods in college.  But I digress!) so when I saw this recipe I thought it might be something to pass along to my readers.  It is definitely a cookie, but packed with enough nutrition to make it worth eating. And at only 126 calories per cookie, why not satisfy that sweet tooth?  This recipe is courtesy of Vocalpoint.

Cookies for Breakfast?!

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or whole grain pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup semisweet mini-chocolate chips (or a dark chocolate bar broken into bits)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In another large bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, and honey until creamy. Add the eggs and stir until thoroughly combined. Add the milk and vanilla extract and stir again. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined, then fold in the oats, raisins, and chocolate chips. Drop the dough by a tablespoon onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9 to 13 minutes or until slightly brown but still very soft. Cool on the baking sheet several minutes, then carefully transfer to a rack.

When completely cool, store in an airtight container.

Makes 36
  
Per cookie: 126 calories, 2 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate, 6 g total fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 106 mg sodium

Homemade Heath Candy Recipe

Question from a reader:  "What is the cracker and chocolate dessert you make?"

This is a recipe I have been making for years.  It is so simple, isn't expensive, and takes next to no time to make!  You can't beat that combination!!  I especially like to make it when I go to any kind of group function, including church or work.  This is always a hit and I have people ask me for the recipe ALL THE TIME!  This is also a hit a Christmas time, as I give it as gifts!!  So I thought I would share it with my friends here on Leave It To June.  ENJOY!!

Homemade Heath Candy

(1) sleeve of saltine crackers (usually about 40)
(1) cup of brown sugar
(1) cup of butter or margarine (2 sticks)
(1) 12 oz pkg of semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate chips can be used, but makes it MUCH sweeter!)

Using one cookie sheet, line it with tin foil.  (I discovered the no-stick kind, and have found it works much better.  But regular tin foil will work).  Place the saltine crackers side by side on the tine foil, covering the cookie sheet.  Place the brown sugar and the butter in a sauce pan and bring to a rolling boil.  Let boil for 3 minutes.  Pour sugar mixture over the crackers.  Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.  Remove from oven, placing cookie sheet on the door of the oven, leaving oven on.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on the cracker/sugar layer, allowing the chocolate chips to melt.  Spread the melted chocolate evenly with a spoon.  Then place cookie sheet in the refrigerator, allowing the heath candy to completely cool.  Break into pieces, tearing off the tin foil.  Store in an air tight container.  This can also be frozen.

Over ripe bananas? Not just for banana bread!

At one time or another, we all end up with over ripe bananas.  That doesn't happen very often at my house, as ALL of my family LOVE bananas.  But every now and then, they don't get eaten at the perfect yellow color (and my kids get pretty picky about brown spots!)  But wait!  Don't throw them out!

Quite a few years ago, I began throwing the over ripe bananas into the freezer, so that they were there when I needed to make banana bread.  I was not only living the phrase "Waste not, want not" but I was prepared when I felt like making banana bread.  I even have friends that bring me their over ripe bananas to put in my freezer, in the hopes that I will make them some banana bread...hmmmm...sneaky!

But what about the other great ways you can use over ripe bananas?  One of my favorites is smoothies.  Just take an over ripe banana, put it in the blender with a cup of ice, some vanilla yogurt and a little milk.  Blend and you have a yummy smoothie.  If I want a little different flavor, I will add a few frozen strawberries to the mix, and use apple juice instead of the milk.  Talk about a nutritious breakfast!

This is an interesting article that gives ideas for using those bananas."Make Use of Over Ripe Bananas"

How do you use over ripe bananas?  I would love to hear your ideas.

Best Healtlhy Foods under $1.00!!

When I first ran across this list, I was trying to figure out what these foods could be.  Under a buck?!?!?  Are you kidding me?!?!?  But these are all healthy, protein and/or nutrient packed foods, and can all be had for around $1.00 (a few of these will probably run a little more than $1.00, but not by much!)

I have learned, feeding a family of five, that I can feed them inexpensively and with their health in mind, without breaking the bank.  And the great thing is, there are more and more health-conscious places available, including organic coupons!  (Mambo Sprouts, Whole Foods, Organic Valley, Organic Food Coupons)

Check out this list: 

• canned tuna
• peanut butter
• spinach
• oats
• beans
• sweet potatoes
• brown rice
• eggs
• apples
• frozen veggies

Do you have some staples you would add to this list?  Remember, they have to be healthy and good for you, not sugar filled or processed foods!  Would love to hear your thoughts!!

Italian Pasta Skillet - Quick and Easy

Pasta, sausage, tomatoes and spinach cooked together for a quick and easy meal.  This dish is one that can be easily made from the items in your pantry.  Much better than Hamburger Helper!!  And so much better for you.  Add a salad and your meal is done!!

Let me know what you think after you try this.  I think it will be a winner in your family, too!!

Compliments of Simple and Delicious.

Nescafe Coffee on the go

Do you enjoy having coffee no matter where you are?  Taster's Choice has single serve packets and here's a coupon that allows you to get a FREE box of Taster's Choice when you purchase one box (6-7 ct).

And here is a great recipe to go along with the Taster's Choice...

BetterOats Oatmeal - Free Sample

Does your family like oatmeal? Here is a FREE sample of BetterOats Oatmeal. Compare your old oatmeal with theirs and if you share your experience in e-mail or video, they will donate five meals to feed hungry families in the United States!

As a little girl, I wasn't too crazy about oatmeal, so my mom got creative and would put different things on it so I would eat it. Here are a few ideas:

Applesauce on top
Maple syrup
Brown sugar and a touch of butter
Any type of fruit
Milk and sugar
Raisins and cinnamon
Granola

How do you like your oatmeal? I would love to hear your ideas for maing oatmeal yummy and nutritious!!

Chicken Tortilla Bake

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can (10 1/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can (10 oz) ROTEL Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
9 corn tortillas (6 inch), torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (1 cup = 4 oz)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 8X8-inch baking dish and medium skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium=high heat. When hot, add bell pepper and onion; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring several times. Stir in broth, soup,m undrained tomatoes and chicken; blend well. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Layer 1/3 each of the tortilla pieces, chicken mixture and cheese evenly in baking dish. Repeat layers twice more. Bake uncovered 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Can be served with sour cream, refried beans and a salad for a complete meal.

Variations:

To make this low fat, use reduced fat cream of mushroom soup and reduced fat cheese.
Ground turkey or ground beef can be used instead of chicken.
Diced tomatoes can be substituted for Rotel tomatoes to make it less spicey.


This recipe can be doubled easily.

Coming Soon!!!

Coupons, Cleaning and Cooking the June Cleaver way.