Cherry Vanilla Overnight Oats

Overnight oats have been my go to breakfast lately. I have been getting tired of eating cereal in the morning and was looking for a change. Since the weather has been getting warmer eating hot oatmeal was not something I wanted and I needed something quick and easy.

Overnight oats are really quick and easy. Prepare them the night before and refrigerate. In the morning open the jar, stir and eat. With so many options for flavors be on the look out for more recipes coming.

Cherry Vanilla Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen tart cherries

Directions:

1. In a sealable container add the oats and pour the milk over top. Add in the yogurt and top with the frozen cherries.
2. Seal the container and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning stir everything together and eat.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
Regular vanilla yogurt may be substituted for the vanilla Greek yogurt.

Fresh cherries or frozen dark cherries may be substituted for the frozen tart cherries. If using fresh, remember to remove the pits.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 335
Total Fat		3.2g
Saturated Fat		0.5g
Polyunsaturated Fat		1.1g
Monounsaturated Fat		1g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		3.8g
Sodium		85g
Potassium		447.7g
Total Carbohydrates		66.5g
Dietary Fiber		8g
Sugars		36g
Protein		14g
Vitamin A 9.9% Vitamin C 4.2%
Calcium 22.8% Iron 12.5%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Quaker Oats.

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Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

These chicken breasts are stuffed with flavor. Lots of gooey melty mozzarella cheese, spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Then they are breaded and baked.

When you stuff these chicken breasts, they will be quite full, but remember the spinach will cook down a lot. You will also have to be careful when breading the chicken breasts, if anything falls out just stuff it back in.

Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• black pepper, to taste
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 2 cups spinanch, chopped
• 1 cup sun dried tomato halves
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cut each chicken breasts in half horizontally, but stopping before cutting all the way across.
3. Open the chicken breasts up flat and place the cheese, spinach and tomatoes inside. Close the chicken breasts back up.
4. In a shallow bowl add the egg and beat it.
5. In another shallow bowl add in the bread crumbs.
6. Working with one chicken breasts at a time, carefully dip both sides in the egg and then into the bread crumbs press down to coat both sides well with bread crumbs. Then place the chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. Continue until all chicken breasts are done.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken breasts are completely cooked. Garnish with basil leaves.

Enjoy!!!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 502
Total Fat		16.8g
Saturated Fat		7.5g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat		0.5g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		187.9g
Sodium		879.3g
Potassium		571.9g
Total Carbohydrates		24g
Dietary Fiber		2.8g
Sugars		6.7g
Protein		69.6g
Vitamin A 34.3% Vitamin C 20.4%
Calcium 12.2% Iron 23.4%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Damn Delicious.

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Mocha Iced Coffee

Mocha would not be my go to iced coffee, but so many people are fans of mocha drinks, so I felt I should include it on my blog. It tasted just like a mocha latte, but in cold iced form.

Mocha Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups brewed coffee, cold
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1-2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Directions:

1. Place the coffee, milk and desired amount of chocolate syrup in a blender. Blend until well mixed and frothy.
2. Place coffee ice cubes in a glass and pour coffee mixture over top.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
The nutritional info is for 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 131
Total Fat		1.4g
Saturated Fat		0.9g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0g
Monounsaturated Fat		0.2g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		3g
Sodium		62.5g
Potassium		229.2g
Total Carbohydrates		27.4g
Dietary Fiber		1g
Sugars		21.6g
Protein		3.1g
Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 1.3%
Calcium 9.4% Iron 4.6%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

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Iced Coffee

As the days started to get warmer and warmer. Warm to the point where you wake up and can wear shorts and a tee shirt and the day stays warm or get warmer, even hot. I was having an issue with my morning coffee on the way to work. By the time I finished my hot coffee I was roasting. My whole body was warm, warm to the point where I needed to open a window or turn on the air.

I decided I needed to come up with a cold coffee drink that I could make quickly in the morning. As I was looking through all of my previously made cold coffee drinks, I realized that I had never made an iced coffee, only frozen coffee's.

So I knew it was time to fix that. As I was preparing what I needed to make iced coffee the next morning, it dawned on me. Why would I put regular ice cubes in my iced coffee, because when they melted, it would just water down my coffee. So I brewed some coffee, let it cool and then poured it into ice cube tray and frozen them. You could also do this with some leftover coffee if you happen to have any from your morning coffee or brew some just to make ice cubes like I did.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for some flavored iced coffee recipes. I really got on a kick with this iced coffee thing.

Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups brewed coffee, cold
• 1/4 cup milk
• coffee ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place the coffee and milk into a blender and blend until well mixed and frothy.
2. Add coffee ice cubes to a glass and pour coffee over top.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
You can add 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar when you blend the ingredients if you like your coffee a little sweeter.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 25
Total Fat		0.1g
Saturated Fat		0g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0g
Monounsaturated Fat		0g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		1.2g
Sodium		44.7g
Potassium		315g
Total Carbohydrates		3.5g
Dietary Fiber		0g
Sugars		3.5g
Protein		2.6g
Vitamin A 2.5% Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 9.3% Iron 0.2%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

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Oatmeal Fruit Bars

I can not tell you the last time I bought a granola bar at the grocery store. Ever since I discovered how to make them at home I have been trying different flavors. 

These bars are different from all the others I have tried and they are so delicious and easy. Plus they only have 6 ingredients making them a perfect snack or treat for kids and adults. 

Oatmeal Fruit Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 cup fruit preserves or jam, any flavor

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Line it with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper.
2. In a food processor add the flour, oats, and brown sugar. Pulse for 30 seconds. Add in the cubed butter and cold water. Pulse until the mixture holds together when pressed.
3. Divide the dough mixture in half and press half of it down to cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish, with a spatula.
4. Pour the fruit preserves over top and very gently smooth into an even layer. If your preserves or jam are on the thick side, heat it on the stove or in the microwave to make it more pourable.
5. Sprinkle the remaining dough mixture over top and press down into an even layer, using a spatula.
6. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool the bars completely and then cut into approximately 16 bars.

Enjoy!!!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories 218
Total Fat		9.1g
Saturated Fat		5.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.6g
Monounsaturated Fat		2.3g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		22.5g
Sodium		2.2g
Potassium		71.5g
Total Carbohydrates		31.9g
Dietary Fiber		2g
Sugars		18.9g
Protein		2.4g
Vitamin A 6% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1% Iron 4.4%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod.

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Quick and Easy Fudge

This fudge is really quick and easy like the name says. Plus it taste delicious. I took this fudge to a work pot luck and it was gone in no time.

Quick and Easy Fudge

Ingredients:

• 2- 9 ounce packages Nestlé Toll House Delightfulls, any flavor
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Line an 8 inch square baking dish with foil that extends over the edge of the pan.
2. In a small sauce pan add in the delightfulls and sweetened condensed milk. Heat over low heat stirring often until the chocolate is just melted and completely combined with the condensed milk. Stir in the vanilla extract. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
3. Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Remove from the pan by lifting the foil. Carefully peel off the foil off of the fudge and then cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Enjoy!!!

Yields about 4 dozen pieces or 2 pounds

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Taco Stuffed Shells

My girls had these shells while staying with their grandparents and absolutely loved them. They requested that my mom make them again so I could try them when I was there and give me the recipe. I would have to agree that they were pretty good and being covered in crushed Doritos only made them better.

Taco Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

• 18 jumbo pasta shells
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1-3 teaspoons chili powder
• 4 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups taco sauce
• 1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cups crushed Doritos

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Gently toss the drained shells with the butter and set aside.
3. In a large skillet cook the ground turkey, over medium high heat until cooked and crumbled. Drain any fat.
4. Turn the heat down to low and add your desired amount of chili powder to the cooked meat and stir to mix well. Add in the cream cheese and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
5. Fill the pasta shells with the meat mixture and place the shells in a 9x13 baking dish. Spoon the taco sauce over top.
6. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and top with both cheeses and the crushed Doritos. Bake uncovered for 15 more minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
You can substitute salsa for the taco sauce if desired.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 681
Total Fat		38.1g
Saturated Fat		17.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat		1g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		153.1g
Sodium		1,165.2g
Potassium		17.4g
Total Carbohydrates		46.3g
Dietary Fiber		2.3g
Sugars		2.3g
Protein		42.4g
Vitamin A 30.2% Vitamin C 1.7%
Calcium 42.5% Iron 16.5%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

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Italian Meatball Calzones

A completely homemade calzone, from the dough to the meatballs. I choose to use my homemade marinara sauce and a homemade pizza dough, but you could use store bought ones if you choose. 

Italian Meatball Calzones

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hot Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 pound pizza dough
• 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl combine the sausage, bread crumbs, dried parsley, black pepper and egg. Combine until everything is mixed.
3. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop out the mixture and roll into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Once cooked, allow to cool to the touch.
5. Increase the oven heat to 425º F. Flip two baking sheets over and spray the bottoms with cooking spray.
6. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces.
7. On a lightly floured surface roll each dough pieces out into approximately a 10 inch circle.
8. Spread half of each dough circle with 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese. Top the ricotta cheese with 6-8 meatballs.
9. Spoon some marinara sauce over top of the meatballs, then top with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
10. Fold the dough over the filling and press the edges together. Fold the edge underneath the calzone and crimp the edges.
11. Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheets.
12. Brush with the beaten egg and bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, or until the tops a golden brown.
13. Allow the calzones to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 951
Total Fat		50g
Saturated Fat		21.6g
Polyunsaturated Fat		1.1g
Monounsaturated Fat		6.5g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		227.9g
Sodium		2,230.3g
Potassium		429.8g
Total Carbohydrates		75.1g
Dietary Fiber		4.8g
Sugars		8.3g
Protein		47.3g
Vitamin A 33.3% Vitamin C 22.1%
Calcium 42.9% Iron 35.5%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Simply Scratch.

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Muffin Omelettes

I like omelettes, but really do not like making them. I always have trouble flipping them, so I just make scrambled eggs instead. Well this recipe takes the omelette and makes it super easy. You place anything you want in your omelette in a muffin pan. Then pour eggs over and bake. Simple easy and no flipping of eggs.

Muffin Omelettes

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• black pepper, to taste
• 16 ounces roll sausage, cooked and crumbled
• shredded cheddar jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk and black pepper.
3. In the prepared muffin evenly divide the sausage. Evenly sprinkle the cheese over top of the sausage.
4. Pour the egg mixture evenly into the muffins tins, filling 3/4 full.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until eggs are cooked through.

Enjoy!!!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories 263
Total Fat		21.1g
Saturated Fat		8g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.7g
Monounsaturated Fat		2g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		216.1g
Sodium		378.1g
Potassium		71g
Total Carbohydrates		1.2g
Dietary Fiber		0g
Sugars		0.9g
Protein		15.5g
Vitamin A 10.2% Vitamin C 0.1%
Calcium 10.4% Iron 7%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Just a Pinch.

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