Spiced Maple Syrup

Ingredients

• cheesecloth
• kitchen twine
• 1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup
• 8 black peppercorns
• 6 whole allspice
• 6 whole cloves
• 2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 3 orange zest strips

Instructions

1. Add the orange zest and spices to the cheesecloth. Gather it up, and tie with the kitchen twine.
2. Add the maple syrup and spice packet to a saucepan. Heat over low heat for 5 minutes.
3. Pour the syrup into a container. Cover and chill for 24 hours.
4. Warm the syrup a bit before you pour it over pancakes or waffles. The syrup will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.

I am so excited to try this one out tomorrow. I got it from my new recipe find.....

BAKED BREE

She has some great recipes over there.

Awesome Omelette

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup diced red pepper
few slices red onion, chopped
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 lrg egg
3 egg whites(or just 3 lrg eggs instead of one egg, and egg whites)
2 tsp crumbled goat cheese

Heat oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add peppers, onion, and mushrooms. Saute until veggies are softened.When veggies are soft, remove from pan, and set aside.
Meanwhile, beat eggs with wire whisk in a small bowl until blended. pour eggs into skillet and cook several minutes over medium heat until  the eggs are set. Spread the veggies evenly over one side of cook egg, top with cheese,  and use spatula to fold Omelette in half onto itself. Remove from heat and let sit 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan and serve.

Aunt Jemima Does Pigs In A Blanket

The pictures says it all! A friend of mine posted the link on Facebook. I made them for the girls for lunch,and it was a big hit...even with the kid who hates meat!

Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins

1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. applesauce (or grated apple)
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. oil
1 egg

Blend and sprinkle on top:

1/4 c. oatmeal
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. melted butter

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes.

I made mine with the Motts Fruitsations applesauce cups, and they were YUMMY! Since the kids wanted icing on top of them, there is no topping on mine either...still tasty.

Nutty Granola

• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 2/3 cup honey
• 6 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cups golden raisins
• 1/2 cup dried cherries

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, hot water and honey. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, pecans, and walnuts. Pour the honey mixture into the oat mixture and stir until the oats and nuts are evenly coated. Spread out the granola onto 2 baking sheets.
3. Bake for 10 minutes, stir, and bake 10 more minutes, or until toasted. Allow granola to cool completely before stirring in the raisins, golden raisins and dried cherries. Granola will harden as it cools. Break apart any large lumps, and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Chewy Granola Bars

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

I found this on All Recipes and LOVED IT! Made mine with mini Marshmallows, mini chips, and small chunks of graham Wafers...YUM!

Quaker® Banana Bread Oatmeal

Ingredients:

3 cups (750 mL) fat-free milk
3/4 tsp (4 mL) ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground nutmeg
2 cups (500 mL) Quick Quaker® Oats (uncooked)
2 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup or 250 mL)
2 tbsp (25 mL) coarsely chopped toasted pecans

Optional ingredients:
Brown sugar
Non-fat vanilla yogurt
Banana slices
Pecan halves

Method:

In medium saucepan, bring milk and spices to a gentle boil (watch carefully); stir in oats. Return to boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.

Remove oatmeal from heat. Stir in mashed bananas and pecans. Spoon oatmeal into six cereal bowls. If desired, sprinkle with brown sugar and top with yogurt, sliced bananas and pecan halves.

To toast pecans:

Spread evenly in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 5 to 7 minutes or until light, golden brown. Or, spread nuts evenly on microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Continue to microwave on high, checking every 30 seconds until nuts are fragrant and brown.