Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal

My coworkers mom brought two bags of shelled pecans to the office this week :) I love them but I normally don't buy them because of the price and I will end up eating them all, since Ed can't eat them. The first thing I told Lisa I was going to do was make some Banana Nut Oatmeal. It took me a few days to get around to it, but it was worth the wait!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 banana, pureed (approx 185 g/6 oz)
1 Tbs brown sugar blend
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz pecans
1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
2 tbs flax seed meal

Preheat oven to 350. Combine 1oz pecans and 1/2 cup oats in food processor and grind. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground oats and nuts, with the flax and the remaining 1 cup oats. Stir to combine. In a separate mixing bowl, be together the brown sugar blend, milk, eggs, banana puree and vanilla. Combine the liquid mix with the dry mix. Spray 8x8 pan with spray. Pour in the oatmeal mix and top with the remaining 1 oz of pecan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve and Enjoy :) Suitable for breakfast or a snack!

Makes 4 Servings @ 8 PPV
           6 Servings @ 5 PPV
           8 Servings @ 4 PPV
          12 Servings @ 3 PPV

Linked at Melt in Your Mouth Monday, What's New Wednesday, Show me What you've got!, Practical Saving's Foodie Friday, Heart Smart: Recipes for a Healthy Heart, Fit and Fabulous Friday,
The Kids are Grown Up, Now What? Recipe Linky, Mop it up Monday

Strawberry Banana French Toast Casserole

Ingredients:
6 slices light wheat bread (45 cal per slice), cubed
1 banana, mushed
6 oz strawberries, diced
1/2 cup milk
4 eggs
1/2 tbs cinnamon
1 tbs vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with pan spray. Place cubed bread in dish.
Mix the mushed banana, milk, eggs, and spices until all well combined.
Pour the milk mix over the bread and mix til all bread is well coated.
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until cooked through.

YUM!
I have made a few newer variations of this and have taken it to work to let co-workers try it. I was told that it has a "bread pudding-ish" consistency, so I am working on new recipes to add some oats to absord some moisture. I do believe you can bake it for a bit longer and that will help as well. Everyone that tried it, liked it :)

4 servings at 5 PointsPlus each
2 servings at 9 PointsPlus each

Linked on:
Mop it up Monday
What's cooking Thursday
Bake with Bizzy
Foodie Friday
Fusion Friday

Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal

Oh Gina! :) Your website always has a way of enticing me to try something different! Gina at Skinny Taste, always serves up great recipes. Here is my variation of her recipe, originally found here

Ingredients:
2 medium bananas, sliced in thin rounds
11 oz (or more:D) strawberries, sliced
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
3/4 tsp baking powder
1tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/8 cup + 1 tbs honey
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 375.
Spray an 8x8 (or whatever smallish size) baking dish with pan spray. Layer  at least 1/2 of the banana slices on the bottom of the pan, topped with at least 1/2 of the strawberries. Drizzle with 1 tbs honey and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Cover with foil and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until bananas are soft.

While baking the fruit, in a medium bowl, mix the oats, baking powder, remaining cinnamon, salt. Stir well.
In a separate bowl, combine the milk, honey, egg and extracts.

Remove the fruit from the oven, then pour the oat mixture evenly over it. Pour the milk mixture over the oats as evenly as possible. Top with the remaining strawberries and bananas.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve hot from the oven, or reheated the next day!

makes 6 servings at 5 PointsPlus per serving
makes 4 servings at 8 PointsPlus per serving


Linked at Melt in your mouth Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Made from Scratch Tuesdays

Skinny Monkey Bites

We have been trying to find "better"snack alternatives for both Ed and myself and in the process stumbled across this recipe at Once a Month Mom. The ingredients are basic and the prep is easy enough. Definitely a winner for me!

Ingredients:
3 bananas, mushed (mine weighed 406 g total, without peel)
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I used skippy natural)
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa powder
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat over to 350. Mush banana in a large bowl. Once smooth, mix in the peanut butter, apple sauce and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl combine the oats and the cocoa til well combined. Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients thoroughly. Let mixture stand for 15-20 minutes ( I skipped this step, impatient me!) Spoon out by teaspoon fulls on to cookie sheet, bake for 10-12 minutes.

Original recipe states yield 30, I got 33 out of mine.
based on 33 bites:
1 is 1 Points+
2 is 2 Points+
3 is 4 Points+
4 is 5 Points +

I enjoyed these; Ed said they are very banana-y.

Choco-Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

When I made the original version of this I envisioned it with chocolate, so I finally went and bought some baking cocoa powder. Totally Rad. Totally!

1/8 cup oats
2 tablespoons dry PB2
2/3 cup 1% milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 frozen banana.
1 tablespoon water

In a blender, dump in the oat and blend til powdery. add in remaining ingredients and blend til smooth.
Enjoy!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Not over the top sweet. Fabulous!

1 serving at 4 Points+

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

I saw this recipe over at This Chick Cooks and KNEW I had to try it! It is easy enough to make and very tasty. I think I will try making it with PB2 Next time and maybe add in some cocoa powder!

1/8 cup (10g) oats
1/8 cup (26g) Peanut Butter (just less than 2 tablespoons)
2/3 cup milk ( I used almond breeze)
1 frozen banana

Put Oats in blender and process til powdery. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend til smooth. Serve and Enjoy!

1 serving at 6 Points+ as prepared above.

Blueberry Banana Breakfast Oat Bread (In the Microwave)

I have frozen bananas, LOT AND LOTS of frozen bananas! I have baked with them before, but really wanted to try them in my Oatmeal Pancakes. So here is what happened. And the result is FABULOUS!

You start with blending up:

Blueberry Banana Ice cream for One

Or: 

45g (or Palm full) of fresh blueberries, stems removed and rinsed
1/2 frozen banana
(you may need some water or milk, but mine didn't!)
Put them in the food processor and give it a whirl.

2/3 cup oats

1 egg

( I did not add these this time, but I will next time)

Cinnamon

a few drips of vanilla

( I PROMISE I was going to make some Pancake but the batter looked to loose and I didn't want to go adding a bunch of other things)

Mix the above ingredients in a microwave safe dish ( you can spray with pam if you want, I didn't and it turned out just fine!)

Heat on high, starting with 1 minutes, then adding 30 second increments, checking the consistency of your bread. It took mine a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds but I would not recommend heating for the entire time at once. I can just envision the explode-y things in your microwave.

CAREFULLY remove the bowl from the microwave and let it sit for a minute so you don't burn your fingers. Flip out on to a plate and serve!

If you wanted to eat the whole thing, One serving is 7 Points+

Or you could half it at 4 Points+ for each half. 

I sprayed a tad bit of spray butter and 1/2 oz light cream cheese to mine (not included in the PPV information)

YUM!

linked up @
Recipes to Run On

Blueberry Banana Ice cream for One

I kind of forgot I wanted to do this till  I started blending up ingredients for something else!

45g (or Palm full) of fresh blueberries, stems removed and rinsed
1/2 frozen banana
(you may need some water or milk, but mine didn't!)

Put them in the food processor and give it a whirl.

YUM!

0 Points+

Banana Pumpkin Brownie Bread Cake

Variations of a familiar theme! Original recipe for Strawberry Banana Brownie Bread Cake

Ingredients:

1 box pillsbury pumpkin bread mix

1 box duncan hines snack size brownie mix

3/4 cup water, divided in to 4ths

1 can of pear halves, canned in own juice, drained and rinsed

180 g or 6.3 oz frozen bananas

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 365.

Combine boxes of dry ingredients and stir til mixes are interspersed ( I used a wisk)

Put the frozen banana with 1/4 cup water in food processor, puree til smoothish

then add another 1/4 cup water, puree til combined.

puree pears in food processor til smooth.

Mix all ingredients in to a large mixing bowl, including the final

1/4 cup water. Spread evenly in a 9x13  baking dish, that has

been sprayed with pan spray.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until cooked through. Enjoy!

18-20 servings yielded @ 4 Points+ each.

you could cut them smaller and get 22-24 @ 3 Points+ each

This was pretty good. It came out with a very gingery taste to it, which I happen to enjoy. Ed liked it but it wasn't a favorite, must have.

Banana Apricot Smoothie

Super Yum :D The apricots add a nice flavor

1 Frozen banana

about 5 apricot halves, canned in own juice, drained and rinsed

1 oz 1/3 less fat Philly Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Peach Propel zero

Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. 

Enjoy!

3 Points+

Pineapple Banana Smoothie

The other day I made Banana Pineapple Soup and I REALLY wanted another one. But I was out of ricotta and Lemon Propel Zero :pout:
But NEVER FEAR!!!
After scrounging in the fridge, I found a few alternate ingredients and I am ever so pleased with the results!


1 Frozen banana
2 pineapple rings
1 oz 1/3 less fat Philly Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Peach Propel zero



Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a pretty glass (or don't) hehe

Enjoy!

3 Points+ for entire recipe

Linked up over at:



Linked at: Ingredients Spotlight: Cream Cheese

Strawberry Banana Brownie Bread Cake

We had some friends coming over for dinner the other night and wanted to try something new for them. I had been looking for recipes that use frozen bananas, but most of them mentioned thawing and ending up with a mystery liquid and brown bananas...not so tasty sounding, so I made this! This was pretty good! I made some PB2 Whipped topping ( 2 tablespoons PB2 and about 1 cup of cool whip free) to go on it and Hubby said he liked it much better with that on top. We ate some and I froze the rest!

Ingredients:

1 box pillsbury banana bread mix

1 box duncan hines snack size brownie mix

3/4 cup water, divided in to 4ths

13 oz strawberries, stems removed, diced and rinsed

180 g or 6.3 oz frozen bananas

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 365.

Combine boxes of dry ingredients and stir til mixes are interspersed ( I used a wisk)

Put the frozen banana with 1/4 cup water in food processor, puree til smoothish

then add another 1/4 cup water, puree til combined.

puree strawberries in food processor til smooth.

Mix all ingredients in to a large mixing bowl, including the final

1/4 cup water. Spread evenly in a 9x13  baking dish, that has

been sprayed with pan spray.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until cooked through. Enjoy!

The dry mixes

lovely fruit purees

the final product

18-20 servings yielded @ 4 Points+ each.

you could cut them smaller and get 22-24 @ 3 Points+ each

I have linked up @

Banana Pineapple Soup

This was inspired by Pam's recipe for Strawberry Soup that she brought in to the meeting room a few weeks back. You could enjoy this as a smoothie as well, but I think the flavor is better enjoyed as a soup!

Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
49 grams ricotta cheese (it was the last of the container!)
2 pineapple rings
1/2 cup Lemon Propel Zero

Blend it all together in the blender until smooth. Serve and Enjoy! This was really so good. The ricotta added a flavor that balanced the sweetness of the fruits

Makes 1 serving @ 2 Points+ (or lower depending on your ricotta!)

I have linked up @

Banana Brownies

I have been trying to think of combinations that  are decent and not going to make brownies any worse for me then they already are, as I have recently stumbled on some very cheap brownie mix. This is attempt number one! I am excited to see what other combinations will arise!

Ingredients:
1 cup mashed over ripe bananas
1 box, snack size Duncan Hines Chewy Brownie mix

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients well.  pour in to an 8x8 glass pan that has been sprayed with pan spray. Bake for about 25-30 minutes.

Makes 12 Brownies @ 3 Points+ Each
The banana ones get sweeter the longer you let them sit, so I stuck the left overs in the freezer!

Linked at: Recipe of the Week: Brownies!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Icecream

Sounds delish right? totally=)


Ingredients :
1 frozen banana, chopped
2 tablespoons Chocolate PB2
2 tablespoons water

Combine all in food processor, til smooth. Serve and Enjoy!!!

1 Points+

Brownies with Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:
Black Bean Brownies
1 frozen banana
enough milk (your favorite variety) to get the banana moving!

Put the banana with the milk (I started with a teaspoon) in your blender or food processor. puree til smooth and ice cream-ie. Top brownie with ice cream and serve.

I had frozen my brownies, so I popped them in the microwave for about 30 each, then topped. Delish!

the nieces enjoying their snack :)

each serving 1 brownie with enough ice cream to cover the top

4-5 Points+ depending on your choice of milk.

Blueberry Banana Waffle

I wanted something different for breakfast, and then I spied the pile of bananas on my counter!


Ingredients:
1 serving of Blueberry Wheat Complete Pancake Mix
1 smushed banana
1/4 cup water
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Preheat your Waffle Iron.

Mix ingredients.

Before adding to iron, be sure to spray with pan spray!!

Cook til done!

Now, I wanted an egg with it, so in a microwave safe dish

spray with pan spray and beat an egg in the bowl.

Nuke on high for about one minute

tada!

This lovely waffle is 4 Points+

The egg is 2 Points+

:drools:

And it was ever so tasty!

as a side note, whenever I make waffles with fruit in them

well mushed fruit, it is hard to get them out of the iron in one piece!

Don't stress yourself, flip the iron over and drop the 

waffle on your plate.

Easy Peazy!