Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

Today at my sons school, it is "Teacher appreciation breakfast" day. And being the over achiever MOM that I am, I had to make something instead of save tons of time and buy something. LOL! At least we have extra goodies for us now. YUM!

This recipe came from my friend Domenica Morello-Cresta AKA project mama. You rule mama!!! I revised it just a touch. These scrumptious muffins are perfect with some tea or coffee for breakfast, for snacking, or even a healthier desert choice. They are chock full of fiber and antioxidants, (I keep telling myself this as I eat them!) and then a lil bit of refined sugar to splurge.  

This recipe is definitely worth a share! Plus too many friends are asking for it.  

ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups oats old fashion
• 1 cup of white flour
•  1 & 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 oz of brown sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk or whole coconut milk
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 ounces chocolate chips 

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to blend. In a separate small bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla and oil.

Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture until moistened. Add the chocolate chips and blend thorough.

Fill lined muffin cups full with batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 16-18 minutes, or until tops are light golden.

Makes approximately 16 muffins.

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Baking Bacon

What did we do before Pinterest? I mean really!? How did we discover cool new things to try, arts and craft ideas and how to bake Bacon!!! For real Baking Bacon! 

WHY HAVEN'T I TRIED THIS BEFORE?

 I Love bacon but I ABHORE cooking it. It gets grease everywhere, it smells up the entire house, (that may or may not be a bad thing), and removing the grease from the pan is always a pain. When I saw this article from Center Cut Cook I thought my oven would be splashed with grease and it would cause my house to smoke up. But oh how I was wrong! It was the perfect way to cook bacon. NO MESS! NO FUSS! And like the Center Cut Cook said, you don't have to baby sit it!

Discover, the best way to make perfect bacon!

INGREDIENTS:

• Hormon Free, Antibiotic Free Sliced Bacon 
• Maple Syrup ( optional )

DIRECTIONS:

• Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Make a small rim on the edges of the foil.
• Arrange the bacon in single layers. 
• Place the tray of bacon in a cold oven. 
• After bacon is in the oven, turn oven to 400 degrees. Bake until the bacon is cooked to your preference. Around 20 minutes give or take.  Pending on how thick your bacon is, the time will vary. Thin bacon cooks faster than thick. 
• When the bacon is to your liking and crispy, place bacon on a paper towel lined plate and softly pat grease off. 
• WALLA!

To make an extra special batch of bacon, drizzle some maple syrup on the bacon before you cook it! OMG! To die for!

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Original Recipe: http://centercutcook.com/how-to-bake-bacon/

Overnight Refrigerator Chia Oatmeal

This really can't get much better or easier! No cooking at all, just dump it in, shake and stick it the fridge overnight! 

I have been playing with this recipe for a while tweaking it to my liking. It's so easy and good. You can really get creative with this. Healthy breakfast to go.  Protein, Fiber and tons of vitamins and nutrients! WINNING!

• 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup coconut milk 
• 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon Honey
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped fruit or enough to fill jar

Optional

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract if you are using regular milk or almond milk
• Instead of honey you can use stevia or  maple syrup. Honey is just my go to sweetener.
• You can use regular whole or skim milk and even almond milk. Coconut milk brings that extra flavor I love. 
• I don't always add the Greek yogurt. If I don't, I use 3/4 cup of full fat coconut milk instead. MMMMM
• All organic ingredients when possible please.

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, honey and fruit. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Refrigerate overnight or as long as 2-3 days. Eat chilled. YUMMY!!

Add whatever fruit you desire. Add coco powder for a chocolate version. Theyummlife.com has some great recipes if you don't feel creative. This is where I discovered this amazing breakfast recipe.

Recipe varies 250 calories pending on your options.

Creamy Garlic Dressing

This amazing Dressing comes straight from "The Ultimate Reset" program. A  21 Day Cleanse that is amazing. I haven't met anyone who didn't like this dressing yet. You wont walk away reeking of garlic. But you will walk away with a happy mouth and belly!

Ingredients
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
3 to 5 cloves crushed garlic
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. Himalayan salt
½ tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. unfiltered honey or raw agave nectar

Directions
Place all ingredients in blender and blend on medium high for 30 seconds or until well mixed. Store excess in airtight container in refrigerator. If dressing solidifies when cold, let sit at room temperature until liquid, then stir. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Nutrition
110 calories
11 g fat
1.5 g saturated fat
0 mg cholesterol
150 mg sodium
2 g carbohydrate
0 g fiber
0 g protein
12 mg potassium

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Quinoa Guacamole Tacos

Originally I discovered this recipe from Food Babe and I revised it to my liking. It is a favorite at my house and seriously THE BEST guacamole you will ever have! It may take a little time to prepare the guacamole but OH SO WORTH IT! 

Serves: 2 – 3

Ingredients Vegetarian Version 

• 2 romaine hearts or 1 head of romaine lettuce 
• ½ cup dry quinoa cooked to package instructions 
• 1 tsp Lemon pepper 
• 1 cup of veggie or chicken broth 
• 3 small ripe avocados diced 
• juice of one lime 
• 1 and ½ cups of cherry tomatoes diced in half and squeezed of excess liquid 
• ¼ cup white onion diced 
• handful of cilantro diced 
• pink Himalayan salt to taste
• Garlic Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste 
• 1 garlic clove minced 
• 1 jalapeño or Serrano pepper diced with seeds removed 

Ingredients Meat Version
Add to the above ingredients

• 1 5oz Beef strip steak 
• 3 Tbs Greek Yogurt 
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheese

(All organic ingredients when possible)

Instructions

• Combine quinoa and Lemon pepper in broth and cook to package instructions.
• Make guacamole by putting all ingredients except romaine in a bowl and combine well.
• Place washed and thoroughly dried romaine leaves on a platter.
• Serve family style – Make the tacos by using a romaine leaf as the shell, adding a scoop of quinoa and a scoop of guacamole to the middle.
• Whoop it up by adding salsa, hot sauce, greek yogurt and or cheese for toppings.