Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

I wish I could take full credit for this recipe. These pancakes are soft and fluffy, with a hint of natural sweetness. In one word: delicious. I first stumbled upon this recipe while reading Chocolate Covered Katie’s blog. Although her original recipe for Single Serving Banana Pancakes is not gluten free, I made a few simple adaptations to make it so.

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Serves 1

Slightly adapted from CCK’s Banana Pancake recipe:

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/01/05/banana-pancakes-for-one/

1/3 cup of gluten free certified rolled oats, ground into flour

3/4 teaspoon of gluten free baking soda

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 small over-ripe banana, mashed

1/4 cup of almond milk

Mix the oats and baking soda in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix well. Spoon the batter onto a heated skillet that is sprayed with cooking spray and cook the pancakes until they are each lightly browned on both sides, flipping once halfway through. Top your pancakes with honey, maple syrup, fresh fruit or any other pancake topping of your choice. Enjoy!

What is your favorite breakfast food? Although these pancakes are delicious, oatmeal still remains my preferred breakfast.

Cherry Almond Granola

If you follow my blog, then you know that I am a big fan of oats. They are so versatile and great for baking. Although I already had a recipe for buckwheat granola, which I adore, I decided to try a new granola recipe using oats. This granola is super easy to make; you probably already have most, if not all, ingredients in your pantry. I love to use this granola to top my vanilla soy yogurt for breakfast or prepackage it in a plastic bag to take it on the go for a snack. If you don’t have dried cherries, any other dried fruit will make an acceptable substitute. If you are looking for a sweeter, more dessert like granola recipe, you could add either two tablespoons of honey, agave, brown sugar, or even some dairy free chocolate chips!

Cherry Almond Granola

Serves 4

1 cup of gluten free rolled oats

1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon of chopped almonds

2 tablespoons of dried cherries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl, and then spread them evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for thirty minutes, flipping once, half-way through. Enjoy!

Overnight Oats

Breakfast has quickly become my favorite meal of the day. Although there was a time when I considered a handful of dry cereal a satisfactory breakfast, I have discovered that a bowl of oats is much more satisfying and gives me the boost of energy needed to make it through the day. Although I like to mix up my breakfast routine and constantly try new breakfast recipes, oats are my trusted favorite. I love my oats simply cooked on the stovetop, baked in the oven, or even cold, soaked in the fridge overnight. Today’s recipe is of the last variety. Overnight oats are great because they require minimal prep the night before, and no prep in the morning, making them ideal for days when you don’t have much time in the morning before you have to get out the door. This recipe is highly adaptable; you can alter the ingredients to fit your specific tastes and dietary needs.

Overnight Oats

Serves 1

1/3 cup of gluten free rolled oats

1/3 cup of almond milk

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of honey

1/2 of a banana, sliced

1 handful of almonds

The night before, simply mix together the oats, almond milk, cinnamon, and honey in a bowl. Place the bowl in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap, overnight. In the morning, top the oats with the sliced banana and almonds. Enjoy!

Other ideas for overnight mix-ins*: Sugar, brown sugar, agave, chia seeds, flaxseeds, vanilla extract, berries, applesauce, soy yogurt, or mashed banana

*Make sure to keep the ratio of oats to wet ingredients approximately equal. For example, if you choose to add yogurt or applesauce, reduce the amount of milk accordingly.

Other ideas for morning toppings:  Nuts, seeds, nut butter, sliced fruit, cereal, or granola

Healthy Granola Bars

I finally had the time to make one of the recipes on my long laundry list of recipes that I found on the internet. These granola bars are great for an easy, portable snack, without any added, unidentifiable ingredients. They are more savory tasting, with just a hint of sweetness, so if you are looking for a more dessert like bar, I would suggest finding a different recipe. I enjoyed one of these bars fresh out of the oven with a nice, hot cup of English breakfast tea…delicious! Enjoy!

Recipe slightly adapted from http://www.thekitchn.com

Healthy Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 large bananas (mine were only ripe, but I’m sure over-ripe would make for sweeter granola bars)
• 2 cups of gluten free oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Oats)
• 1/4 dried, pitted dates, chopped finely (I used Sunmaid dates)
• 1/4 cup almonds, chopped finely
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mash the bananas in a large bowl. Measure and add the other ingredients to the bowl. Stir well to combine all of the ingredients. Pour mixture into a greased (I used PAM original spray, which is gluten free) 8×8 pan and bake for 20 minutes.