Chunky Banana Nut Dark Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Spice Cookies

Yes, you read it right!  These cookies are great!   At least my boys think so.   Dark chocolate, spices, bananas and nuts.  You can add dried fruit, too, if you wish.  With flax seed, wheat germ, wheat and soy flours, and of course oatmeal...what's not to love!   I bet you could even get away with eating these for breakfast, I did!

Frozen Dark Chocolate Banana Slices

These are great for after school snacks or a cool treat after a day outside.  Yeah, it's warm in Florida at the end of January!  A delightful bite of creamy, frozen banana, deep dark chocolate and your favorite topping.

Frozen Dark Chocolate Banana Slices

For One Banana

banana, sliced

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, I use Hershey's Special Dark

1 teaspoon coconut oil or solid shortening

favorite toppings, optional

Put dark chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave proof bowl.  In microwave, 1100 watt, heat on high for 30 seconds..stir until melted.  If needed, heat it another 10 seconds at 5 seconds intervals so you don't overheat the chocolate.  

Put a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet or platter that is freezer proof.  

Dip sliced banana in melted dark chocolate.  

Tap the fork on the edge to remove excess chocolate.  Place on a piece of parchment paper. Top with your favor toppings, if desired.  Put in freezer until frozen solid.  My boys were eating them after 30 minutes.  

The chocolate was hardened but the banana wasn't completely frozen.

It took them outside to take a picture and my mini horse wanted to visit. ~smile~

Pineapple Blueberry Popsicles

We love popsicles!  It doesn't matter if it is summer or winter, if they are here, we shall eat them!  I just found this one in the back of the freezer and I am so happy I did.  One of the twins and I had a yummy suprise treat.    Enjoy these frozen treats of summer anytime of the year.  They will make you smile...I promise.  Love and hugs! 

Pineapple Blueberry Popsicles

1 small can pineapple in juice, slices cut in pieces or chunks sliced in half

1/2 cup fresh blueberries,  as much or little as you want to put in molds

 pineapple juice or water, enough to top off the popsicle molds

popsicle molds or 

small paper cups and popsicle sticks

Put fruit, as much as you want, into popsicle molds or small paper cups.

Pour juice to within a 1/2 inch of the top of cup or to line on molds

With plastic knife, gently move stir fruit.

Freeze 4 hours or until hard set.

Enjoy! 

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Frozen Banana Yogurt in the Freezer

My boys love ice cream, frozen yogurt and popsicles.  I have been trying to make healthier recipes for my boys....trying.   Since they have been asking for ice cream for days now,,  I thought I would make frozen yogurt instead.  Using four ingredients it is easy peasy.  Get your blender out and make this delicious frozen treat.  

The hardest part is the wait! 

Low Fat Waffles

School's started and I like to keep something in the freezer for a fast morning meal.  You know, for those mornings when we run a little late.  Yep, we do that!  ~smile~

I made a LOT of pancakes and waffles last week.  When I went to get them yesterday morning they were gone.  My boys had eaten every one of them!!!  LOL  I made them again today.  These are super fast to make, low fat, light and fluffy!  I make mine in a waffle maker I bought at Walmart one Christmas for $5.00.  I never used it until recently and now it is used all the time!  Go dig your's from out of the back of the cabinet or closet.  Dust off the box and put it to use.  You'll be happy you did!  Waffles aren't just for breakfast.  Top them with fruit and serve as an afternoon treat.  Cut in slices and serve with warmed jam or syrup *Make Your Own Syrup*  in a cup for dipping.  Layer squares on a skewer with fresh fruit and serve with yogurt fruit dip!!!  Enjoy!  Love and hugs!

Low Fat Waffles 

makes 10

3 cups reduced fat biscuit mix, I use Bisquick

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups club soda

1 egg, 2 egg whites or egg substitute, beaten

1 1/2 Tablespoons oil

1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together biscuit mix, egg, oil, 1-2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 1/4 cup club soda.  If it is too thick add a little more club soda.  Too thin, add more biscuit mix..a Tablespoon at the time.

Cook in waffle maker according to directions.  I cook about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  

Eat what you want and put the rest in a freezer bag for another morning.  Pop in the toaster on lowest setting until warm.  Or, in the microwave for 20 seconds, more or less depending on your microwave.

Take out and top with your favorite fruit, whipped cream or syrup. 

Enjoy!  

Peanut Butter Yeast Rolls

My family requested chili at 4 o'clock in the afternoon!  I usually like to cook chili all day.  Either simmering on the back burner of the stove or in a crock pot.   I always have some sort of bread when I cook chili.  It's not a stable at suppertime in our home but with chili, yeah, it is.  Cornbread, garlic bread, white bread even.  Surprisingly, this is great with a big bowl of chili!  It's hearty with a peanut butter taste that isn't overwhelming.  These make a great school lunch or snack after school.  Just warm up and you have the taste of a peanut butter sandwich without the gooey mess.

Peanut Butter Yeast Rolls

4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons dry active yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup peanut butter

Stir together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 Tablespoons yeast and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

Heat milk and water to 110 degrees and pour into flour mixture.

Add peanut butter and stir, adding enough flour to make a soft dough.

Put dough on a well floured surface and knead, adding more flour as needed, for 4-6 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic.  I used just shy of 4 cups.

Pat into a rectangle and cut into equal squares. Although, mine weren't and usually never are.  It's just something that everyone tells you to do.  ~wink~

Now, run over and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and then..

Grease a 9x13 pan.

Put uneven, I mean, even pieces of cut dough on in pan.  Let rise in a warm, draft free place until double in size, 30 - 45 minutes.  I waited 30 and they were at the top of the pan.  I had to get them in the oven before the storm came.

Once doubled in size, cook for 10 minutes, turn pan and cook another 7-10 until done and lightly brown on top.  I can never really tell about bread being done.  I took mine out when they were light brown and they were done at 18 minutes.

Eat them right away if you want the taste of a warm peanut butter sandwich.  Oh, the microwave chili recipe will be posted soon.

PB&J on toasted Peanut Butter Yeast Roll...Yeah, It's Good!
Enjoy!
Love and Hugs! 

Pumpkin Apple Bites

I made these thinking there would finally have a pumpkin pie I would eat.  I like pumpkin but have never liked pumpkin pie.  These turned out great.  A little pumpkin and apple with cinnamon and brown sugar in a hand held crust.  Very easy to make.  My hubby was eating them as fast as they came out of the oven.  We just love little bites of everything, don't you?

Pumpkin Apple Bites

makes 16-24 (we kept eating the filling so not certain) ;D

1 -2 cups diced apples 

1 - 2 cups diced fresh pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

pinch of salt

flour tortillas, I used 6” and got three 2 1/2 - 3” circles  You can use a small mouth jar ring

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cut your tortillas into circles

Peel pumpkin with a vegetable peeler, dice 

Dice apples.

Toss both with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Heat tortillas in microwave, a few at a time,  for 5 – 10 seconds.

Fit into mini muffin tins.

Add pumpkin and apple mixture.

Cook in a preheated oven for 5-12 minutes.  Until set and tortilla cups are starting to brown.

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