My family loves granola bars. It’s a super quick snack, relatively mess-free, and there are so many flavors, there’s always something to please everyone. 

A lot of times though, the fancier granola bars (like Cliff – I guess this is actually an energy bar, but it’s the same idea) are more expensive, more than a dollar per bar. Plus, the list of ingredients on some of those bars are so long, it’s hard to tell what you’re actually eating. 

So, I decided I would start experimenting with different granola bar recipes and see how they compare to store-bought bars. I tried making granola bars a couple times before I was able to come up with something that my family actually enjoyed. These are not your typical bars as these are soft due to the bananas they contain. They still hold their shape just fine, but they’re not hard like those Nature Valley bars that come in the green box. I guess their texture more closely resembles those Nutrigrain bars with fruit fillings (but these taste nothing like those; I’m not a huge fan of Nutrigrain!).  (more…)

Here’s another oatmeal recipe, only this one is a bit more decadent than the ones before it: chocolate brownie oatmeal. 

Reminiscent of a brownie, this oatmeal tastes amazing with some chocolate chips on top. I added white and milk chocolate chips, as well as some slivered almonds, and it was amazing. 

The best part is that this oatmeal is actually HEALTHY! This oatmeal gets its rich flavor with just a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder. To sweeten, a single banana is added.  (more…)

At my house, weekday mornings start early and are rushed, so breakfasts involve something quick and, normally, a bit boring: cereal, instant oatmeal, frozen waffles, omelets… 

Weekend mornings are a totally different story. Weekend mornings involve sleeping in at least until the sun has risen. Weekend mornings involve waking up to delicious smells (well, everyone else wakes up this way – I’m normally the one preparing the aromatic meal) and a hot cup of coffee. 

Weekend mornings often involve eating something hearty, sweet, delicious, and refreshing. That’s exactly why I chose to make this delightful Sunny Pineapple Oatmeal last weekend. It’s a very simple breakfast meal that can be made with little effort but has an amazing salty sweet taste. It has a combination of textures: soft, cooked oatmeal; crunchy sunflower seeds; juicy pineapple chunks.  (more…)

Want a healthy way to make fancy your simple breakfast? Then you must try out this recipe for baked apple pie oatmeal!!

I am a huge oatmeal fan, and some mornings I simply mix slices of apples into my bowl of already-cooked oats, but that does not compare at all to this amazing recipe! 

Out of the oven, you get a smooth, milky, creamy bowl of oats, amazingly crunchy and soft apples, and, with this recipe, tasteful spices. (more…)