Instant Oatmeal ala-home

Instant Oatmeal ala-Home
Amy (amylz)

3 cups Quick-Cooking Oats
Salt
Small sized Zip Baggies 

Put 1/2 cup oats in a blender and blend on high until powdery. Set aside in a small bowl, and repeat procedure with an additional 1/2 cup oats. If you're using a food processor, you can do the 1 cup of oats in one batch. Put the following ingredients into each zip baggie: 1/4 cup un-powdered oats, 2 Tbsp. powdered oats, and 1/8 tsp. salt. Store in an airtight container.

To serve: Empty packet into a bowl. Add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal, use less water - for thinner oatmeal, use more water.

Variations:
Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal- To each packet add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp. chopped dried apples.

Sweetened Oatmeal- To each packet add 1 Tbsp. sugar or 1 packet 'Equal' artificial sweetener.

Brown Sugar/Cinnamon Oatmeal - To each packet add 1 Tbsp. brown sugar & 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Oatmeal w/Raisins & Brown Sugar - To each packet add 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. raisins.

Health Nut Oatmeal - To each packet add 2 Tbsp. any kind of wheat germ

Fruit & Cream Oatmeal - To each packet add 1 Tbsp. non-dairy coffee creamer and 2 Tbsp. dried fruit

Fun Fruit Oatmeal - To each packet, add 6 or 7 pieces of 'fruit snack' type dehydrated fruit.

Confetti Oatmeal - To each packet, add 1 tsp. decorative cake/cookie sprinkles.

S'More Oatmeal - add 6 miniature marshmallows and 1 Tbsp. Milk Chocolate Chips to each packet.

Cookies n Cream Oatmeal - add 1 crushed Oreo cookie and 1 Tbsp. non-dairy coffee creamer to each packet.

Exploding Oatmeal - add 1 tsp. sugar, and 1/2 tsp. 'Pop Rocks' candy to each packet. This one is fun for celebration days, such as birthdays.

Bart-man Oatmeal - add 2 Tbsp. 'Butterfinger B.B's' candies to each packet.

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Barbecued Vegetables

Barbecued Vegetables - These were really easy to make a great vegetable dish.  I used regular frozen green beans and I just cooked them in the microwave instead of blanching them.  Then I used a green pepper, a yellow onion, grape tomatoes and I left the mushrooms whole (I did an 8oz package).  If I were to make this again, I would double the sauce.  It isn't really a sauce when it's done but just adds some flavor to the veggies.

Barbequed Vegetables
jtwinzz

16 oz frozen french cut green beans                               
1 Bell Pepper (green or red) cut in thin strips
1 med. onion (yellow or white) thinly sliced                    
2 med. tomatoes, wedged
4 oz mushrooms, sliced (may use canned)                     
1-2  T.. butter, melted
2 t. Dijon Mustard
2 T. brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
 
Blanch beans and drain.  Place beans in 9x13 baking dish.  Layer remaining veggies on top.  Make sauce by combining remaining ingredients, and drizzle over veggies.  Cover and bake for 20-25 min at 350.  (May cook in microwave if using micro. safe dish - cook about 10 minutes - check for doneness as microwaves vary)

Double Trouble Banana Bread

DOUBLE TROUBLE BANANA BREAD
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy)

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
4 medium size overripe bananas, mashed
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350*.
Lightly grease 9x5 loaf pan.
With mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar.  Add in eggs and bananas, and mix until well blended. Slowly mix in flour and pecans, just until moistened.
Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.
Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

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Nutella Gooey Butter Cake

NUTELLA GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ via Little Kitchie)

for the cake, you'll need:
1 box chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix)
1 large egg
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

for the filling, you'll need:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup Nutella
3 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray.
Add cake mix, egg, and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer and mix until completely incorporated. Use your fingers to press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Clean the bowl, then add cream cheese and Nutella and beat until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter. Beat on low until incorporated, then slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add to the pan and evenly spread over cake batter.
Bake for 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar. If desired, top with fresh whipped cream. Aaaaaaand devour.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

salsa (o-reet)

5 roasted tomatoes

2 onions

2 bell peppers

1 jalapeno

1 clove garlic

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/2 tablespoon cilantro

1 salt and pepper to taste

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Skinny Tortilla Soup

Skinny Tortilla Soup
Lou - CallMeLou from the Oct/Nov 2002 Taste of Home magazine  Number Of Servings: 7

1 can (16 ounces) fat-free refried beans
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1-1/2 cups frozen corn
3/4 cup chunky salsa
3/4 cup cubed cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup water
2 cups (8 ounces) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided
28 baked tortilla chips, divided

In a large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients.   Bring to a boil.   Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.   Add 1 cup cheese; cook and stir over low heat until melted.   Crumble half of the tortilla chips into soup bowls.   Ladle soup over chips.   Top each serving with two crumbled chips; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Nutritional analysis:   One serving (1 cup) equals 290 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 987 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrate, 9 g fiber, 23 g protein.   Diabetic exchanges:   2-1/2 starch, 2 lean meat

Rigatoni Pasta Pie

Rigatoni Pasta Pie:

1 lb rigatoni pasta

1 lb ground beef (I used ground sirloin)

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 small jar of spaghetti sauce

cooking spray

salt

1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese

2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

4oz cream cheese

15oz ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 tsp basil

1 tsp oregano

1 cup onion

spring form pan

DIRECTIONS:

Your going to boil the noodles according to the directions on the box. You want them very firm and avoid stirring them so they do not fall apart. Once done, drain and run cold water over top so they are cool enough to handle. You can add a little bit of oil if they start to stick.

In a skillet add your ground beef, brown then drain excess grease. Add chopped onion and garlic. After about 5 minutes add your cream cheese and stir until melted then add your spaghetti sauce. I always add a pinch of sugar to my red sauces to cut down on the acidity but you dont have to do that.

In a small mixing bowl you are going to mix your ricotta, parmesan, basil, oregano and 2 eggs until smooth then set aside.

Now go find a cute little helper to help tightly pack pasta into pan, standing each piece on end. I sprayed the bottom of my springform pan with cooking spray before I started.

Then I took a tall glass and put a ziplock bag inside it. I then filled the cup up with the cheese mixture and closed the bag. I snipped the corner of the bag and piped a small amount into every noodle

Then I poured my sauce over the whole top and tried to push down as much as possible.

Then topped with 2 cups of mozzerela (Yes, I said TWO cups)


Stick into a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes then turn the broiler on until the cheese starts to brown.