Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal

(recipe adapted from Dr. Sears Zone) (Trademarked)

3 cups rolled oats (Old Fashioned)

3 TBLS sweetener (I use brown sugar)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 eggs (or 2 cups egg substitute)

1 cup milk

1/2 cup blueberries or 1 cup strawberries or fruit of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients. Spray 9x9 pan with non-stick cooking spray. (I use two smaller pans). Place mixture in pan(s). Bake 30 - 32 minutes. Test center with toothpick.  Serve as-is or in a bowl with vanilla yogurt over the top.

This is a fantastic recipe for making on Sunday and eating for breakfast the remainder of the week. Simply heat up a serving in the microwave and add whatever topping suits you.

NOTE: The original recipe uses egg substitute and adds 4 scoops of Dr. Sears Protein Powder. I adapted this to fit what I have in my cupboards. It is filling and delish!

Amish Friendship Bread

You have to receive a starter from a friend.

Amish Friendship Bread

DON'T use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing.

DON'T refrigerate

If air gets in the bag, let it out. It's normal for the batter to rise, bubble, and ferment.

First, you must receive a starter from a friend or go to the link I provided below to make your own starter. Someone gave me a starter last Sunday and I was so happy to receive it. I haven't made this bread in 20 years.

• Day 1: Do nothing. (This is the day you receive the batter. Go by the date on the bag.)
• Day 2: Smush the bag.
• Day 3: Smush the bag.
• Day 4: Smush the bag.
• Day 5: Smush the bag.
• Day 6:  Add to the bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk, then smush the bag.
• Day 7: Smush the bag.
• Day 8: Smush the bag.
• Day 9: Smush the bag.
• Day 10: Follow the instructions below:

1. Pour the entire contents of the bag into a large, NON-METAL bowl.

2.  Add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cups milk.

3. Measure out 4 separate batters of 1 cup each and pour into four 1 gallon ziploc bags. Keep a starter for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a copy of this recipe.  Be sure to let the friend know which day it is that you are giving it to them. It's helpful to write the date for the friend to know which day it is that you are giving it to them. It's helpful to write the date for Day 1 on the bag.

4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

5. To the remaining batter in the bowl, add:

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt (you can omit)
• 2 cup flour
• 1 large box of instant vanilla pudding

6.  Grease 2 large loaf pans. Mix together an additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a bowl. Place half of the sugar mixture in the greased pans.

7. Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the top.

8. Bake 1 hour. Cool until the bread loosens from the pan evenly (about 10 minutes). Turn out onto serving dish. Serve warm or cold

*If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days. The bread is very good and makes a great gift. If you give all your starter away, you will have to wait until someone gives YOU one back! If you want to make your own starter, go to: Amish Friendship Bread Starter

NOTE: I used two small packages of Butterscotch pudding mix in place of the large box of vanilla and it turned out beautiful and Gene loves it. The friend who gave me the starter used Lemon pudding and I thought it was most excellent. Get creative!