Mint Cacao Chip Oatmeal

It feels like so long since I have eaten (and posted!) regular stove top oatmeal!!! I guess I've been on a bit of a baked oatmeal kick lately. . .  ^-^

Anyways, I've been making an effort to eat more veggis. I realized that I eat a TON of fruit, but not so much greens, beans, sweet potatoes, etc. This oatmeal is a great way to start your day deliciously, but with an extra nutritional boost. All thanks to the secret ingredient. . . SPINACH!!! Trust me, the spinach is completely unnoticeable (unless you don't blend it well, and leave chunks. I learned this the hard way), and it lends such a unique and vibrant green color! I am absolutely, positively going to be incorporating spinach into many recipes to come!

Mint Cacao Chip Oatmeal with homemade coconut cashew butter, strawberries, coconut, walnuts, and mulberries. 

Mint Cacao Chip Oatmeal
-1/2 c oats
-1 c milk of choice
-large handful of spinach
-1 banana
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-1/4 - 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (depending on how strong you want the peppermint flavor to be.)
-1 tbsp chia seeds (optional, but really helps soak up the liquid.)
-1 tbsp cacao nibs (chocolate chips would work too, you just wouldn't be able to stir them in)

Directions:
In a blender, blend the milk, spinach, banana, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract together very, very, very well. There should be no chunks of spinach left. Pour the smoothie into a small saucepan, and bring it to a boil. This will take a little bit longer than regular (almond) milk, so be patient. Once it starts to bubble (there won't be a lot of bubbles, so keep your eyeball peeled) add the chia seeds and oats. Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir, then let the oats and chia seeds soak up the liquid. Once the oatmeal has reached your desired consistency, stir in the cacao nibs, then transfer to a bowl and add your toppings of choice. If you are using chocolate chips, do not stir them in, and just sprinkle them on top.

Sticky Date Overnight Oats

Does it ever frustrate you when you're reading a book, and a character does something that is so obviously stupid and wrong that you want to start shouting at him/her? Or maybe when they are so close to reaching their goal, and then they go and turn the other way, or run off somewhere else?

Yeah, that happens to me a lot. Especially when I know that they are that close to finding whatever they were looking for. *sigh* I guess it shows that the author is either a very good writer, and can keep everyone in suspense and on their toes, or they are really, reaaaalllly bad. But it's probably the former. I mean, they can't just let the main character solve their problem like *that* right? 

Humph.

Sticky Date Overnight Oats with sliced banana, cacao nibs, a baby orange, mulberries, and homemade healthy caramel.

Chocolate Cherry Nice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for. . . . NICE CREAM! <3

"Nice cream" has definitely become staple food in my life, I have it almost every day! And it just tastes that much better when it is hot and summery outside. Speaking of summer, I can't believe that it's already the end of July! Where have the weeks gone? Oh well, I still have a month left before school starts again...*shudder* Not that I hate school or anything, but it keeps me so busy, I feel like I'm going to have less time to write and take {acceptable} pictures. Especially in the winter, when the sun rises late and I have to get up uber early to catch the bus, the lighting is horrible. -_-  Oh well, I shall find a way, even if it means that I have to eat breakfast for lunch (which isn't actually so bad...)!!!

Now off the topic of school, and on too the amazing combination of chocolate and cherries!!! The creamy coolness of the chocolate and the slight tartness of the cherries meld perfectly into one heaping bowl of deliciousness. Topped with some coconut and cacao nibs, this is the perfect healthy summer time treat.

Chocolate Cherry Nice Cream with shredded coconut, cacao nibs, and walnuts. 

Raspberry Fudge Baked Oatmeal

I have good news!!!! My Nutribullet, IT'S ALLLIIIVVVEEEE!!! I guess it needed a little break or something. *phew* That was one of the scariest moments I have ever experienced in my life (shows how interesting I am, huh?). To celebrate I made myself a huge bowl of Pineapple Protein Nice Cream (a hint of what's to come?), but that's going off topic....Let's talk warm gooey chocolate-y raspberry heaven. I don't know why I was so surprised at how yummazing (yes, it's so good that I had to make up a word to describe it...) it was, because chocolate + berries generally equals happiness, but this was next level good. I'm talking it barely even qualifies as breakfast anymore, even though it was 100% healthy. Have I convinced you yet? How about if I mention that there were little bubbles of melted chocolate chips inside, and that the raspberries got all warm and juicy, and that the oatmeal itself was positively cake like? And if you happen to add a glob of your favorite nut butter on top . . . . your going to have to use your imagination for that one. Or better yet, head to your kitchen right now and get cracka lackin on some amazeballs breakfast food.

Raspberry Fudge Baked Oatmeal topped with sliced banana, pistachios, maple vanilla macadamia nut butter, cacao nibs, and chia seeds. 

Maca Protein Nice Cream + The Death of My Nutribullet

As I write this, I wallow in mourning. While making this nice cream, my faithful little Nutribullet suddenly became ominously silent. When I heard the sudden and unexpected silence, I slowly lifted the cup out of the machine, and a wisp of smoke curled out. It didn't look good. I tried turning my Nutribullet on again, but the motor refused to begin. My stomach turned cold, and I slowly pulled the grey plug from the socket. I could not leave my nice cream half blended, so I used my food processor instead. It just didn't seem right, and I could find no joy in the loud whirling. I shall miss the glee found in hearing the blades catch just right, and the happy little whirlpool that is created when the nice cream has become smooth. You will never be forgotten o' Nutirbullet. I will always have you in my heart.

R.I.P. NUTRIBULLET

Well in a slightly more cheerful tone, this nice cream turned out great. As in my other protein powder-less nice cream, I used tofu to add protein. The result was super creamy and thick, with a hint of maca in every spoonful. This is definitely going to become one of my go-to recipes for when I'm in the nice cream mood. :0)

Maca Protein Nice Cream with cacao nibs, chia seeds, and sliced almonds.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

I like apples. I eat them almost every day. But whenever I try to add them to my oatmeal, like I see so many people do, it just seems to turn out....bleck. I don't know what it is that turns me off of it, maybe it's the big chunks of apple interspersed that makes eating seem awkward, or the lack of flavor my apple chunks have. Whatever it is, I vowed never to add apples into my oats again. And then today I broke that vow, because my "apple problem" kept on nagging at the back of my mind. I decided to go with a basic Apple Pie, and after much contemplating and "hmm"-ing, I thought that I spotted where my problem was. In all my previous failed attempts at apple filled oatmeal, my chunks were rather large. So I steeled myself, and commenced chopping (Ha. I just accidentally wrote chooping. That's an awesome word.). I made sure to chop the apple into really really tiny pieces, and thankfully it turned out much better then any of my others. The apple bits were small enough that they softened up nicely, and weren't hard to eat, and the addition of a little maple syrup and some spices helped keep the flavors up n' running. And now the question of "WHY CAN'T I ADD YOU INTO MY OATMEAL YOU EVIL MOSTLY-RED BALLS OF FRUIT?!?!?!" has been answered, and I can make oatmeal in peace once more . . . . *dramatic music*

 Apple Pie Oatmeal with blueberries, granola, coconut, walnuts, peanut butter, and sliced apple.

Maca Blueberry Overnight Oats

I realized that I hadn't posted an overnight oats recipe to accompany my poor lonely Mango Sorbet Overnight Oats  in the Overnight Oats section of my recipe index. So I set out to create a new recipe at once. Now I do have my reasons for letting this section gather cobwebs, the most important one being that I am the type of person who prefers a nice warm bowl of oatmeal (or baked oatmeal <3) in the morning. However I must admit, being able to grab a bowl (or jar) of already made oatmeal and then heading out the door is extremely helpful, especially when there is somewhere you need to be and you woke up a tad late. Not that I've ever done that or anything. *cough*

Maca Blueberry Overnight Oats topped with sliced pear, banana, walnuts, coconut, and sunflower seeds. 

Chocolate (Protein) Nice Cream

I can't believe I never thought about trying this before. I've had nice cream plenty of times (actually I eat it basically every day...), but I've never thought about adding tofu to it! I actually got the idea from Casey's Wholesome Kitchen. She has posted many recipes for Tofu Soft Serve, and they all looked amazing, but I've never come around to trying it out for myself. I'd like to say that it was me being to preoccupied to try it, or that I couldn't access tofu, but that would pretty much be a lie. Truth is, whenever I happened to remember that I wanted to try adding tofu, I ended up putting it off because I was too lazy. -_-' Opening a package of tofu, then draining the water, then measuring out how much I need, then getting a container, then putting back in the fridge, phew, I'm getting tired just thinking about it . . . .  But now that I have tried it, I'm never going back!!!! The tofu makes it so creamy, and don't worry, you can't taste it! You just get all the added protein and nutrients, and a lot of extra yumminess. <3 Of course, if you don't have any tofu, you can make regular Chocolate Nice Cream too, which is just as scrumdiddlyumptious.

Chocolate Protein Nice Cream topped with chia seeds, goji berries, and pepitas. 

Mocha (Choffee) Oatmeal

I must admit, I've never actually had a mocha before. I don't even drink coffee. But chocolate and coffee sounded like a really good combination, so I went along and tried it. While I was planning and eating this bowl of oatmeal, I didn't know what a mocha was, so I was thinking about calling this Choffee Oatmeal....Even after learning the "correct" term, I was still thinking about calling it Choffee, because c'mon, Choffee? How adorable is that? Plus it's really fun to say too. Choffee. Choffee. Chhhoooffffeeeeee. Ok I'll stop now. Sorry. Anyways, I finally decided to call it Mocha Oatmeal because I felt like if I call it Choffee, everyone would be telling me that it's actually mocha. But that didn't stop me from adding Choffee in parentheses. :0)

As for taste, all I can say is mmmmm. Coffee and chocolate go so well together, and it smells absolutely divine. Ha. I just used the word divine. ^-^ Ahem. As I was saying, please do yourself a favor and make this for yourself on some miserably cold day when you could use cheering up, on a joyful day when you feel you should celebrate something, or on a random day when you want a new breakfast idea. Whatever day you choose, I'm sure you'll enjoy this bowl of Choffee goodness. :0)

Mocha Oatmeal with raspberries, blueberries, coconut, peanut butter, and a chocolate chip. 

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

I finally did it! The perfect(ish) Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal!! Sheesh, took long enough. Not that it was ever bad or anything, I just really wanted it to be juuuusst right. As I glared at this bowl (actually ramekin) of baked oatmeal, I had a good feeling about it. I could just tell, deep down in my stomach, that it was going to work out. And it did! Which makes me very happy. :0) I definitely recommend adding a big honking glob of your favorite nut butter on this one. I used peanut butter and it complemented the slightly spiced sweetness of the oatmeal perfectly. <3

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal topped with baked bananas, blueberries, and  peanut butter. 

Blackberry Banana Oatmeal

I seem to have a bowl obsession. I don't know why, but I just really like bowls. I guess it's fun having different bowls to eat oatmeal from, and I could be obsessed with worse things right? Compulsively going to the bowl section in very store I go to, that's not weird at all! :0D

On the topic of oatmeal, I was surprised at how yummy this was! I guess blackberries and bananas are just meant to be... And isn't that color so pretty? Who needs food coloring when you can have blackberries?

Fun Fact: Some good friends of mine bought me the bowl I used in the picture below. You can't really see it, but there is a lemon panted on the side. <3

Blackberry Banana Oatmeal topped with more banana, blackberries, peanut butter, and mango accompanied by my little Forest Ghost. :0)

The Liebster Award!!!

I have seen mentions of the Liebster Award all around the food blogging world, and on many of my favorite blogs, but never did I imagine that I would be nominated for it!!! Claudia and her amazing blog The Breakfast Drama Queen which features many creative, delicious, and healthy oatmeal recipes, nominated me, and I would like to give her my heartfelt thanks to her. I would also like to happily accept the award.
^-^

From what I have read on other blogs that have been given this award, the Liebster Award is something passed around from blogger to blogger to show appreciation for what they do. :0) Apparently there are also rules when accepting the award:

~You have to link back to the blog that nominated you 

~You have to share 11 facts about yourself

~You have to answer 11 questions asked by the nominator

~You have to nominate 11 other people and notify them of their nomination

Sounds fun! :0D

Carrot Banana Oatmeal

To be completely honest,  I was trying to make carrot cake oatmeal. Unfortunately, it just didn't seem quite right. Now, I don't actually have much experience with carrot cake, but from what I remember, it was spicy (as in lots of spices, not heat) and sweet. This oatmeal didn't quite fit that description, but it was actually really tasty, so I decided to share it anyways. But never fear! I will make a successful carrot cake oatmeal, even if it is the last bowl of oatmeal I make! Actually, I take that back. If I knew I was making my last bowl of oatmeal ever, it would probably have something to do with chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. ;0)

Carrot Banana Oatmeal topped with more banana, blueberries, peanut butter, and coconut.

Double Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

Okay, I admit it. I have a ginormous sweet tooth, and am also quite the chocolate lover. Oh who am I kidding, I adore chocolate. And sometimes, I just feel like . . . delving into warm chocolate-y baked goodness for breakfast. Which is actually most days. But never fear! Chocolate, or more specifically unsweetened cacao powder, is actually good for you! *cue gasp*
These are just some of the benefits of cacao powder:
-It is very high in antioxidants (even more then blueberries and green tea!), which benefits cardiovascular health (well, really whole body health) and helps fight disease.
-High in magnesium, which helps to regulate blood pressure and helps build strong bones, among other things.
-High in sulfur, which helps to build strong nails and hair.
-It is also high in iron and chromium (as well as many other minerals), which are both important minerals that our bodies need.

So if anyone ever tries to tell you that you can't have chocolate for breakfast, I give you leave to go "Pfffft" at them. ^-^

More on cacao:

Healthy Eating - Antioxidant Benefits of Raw Cacao

Secrets Of Longevity In Humans - Raw Cacao Benefits

More on Antioxidants:

Nutrex Hawaii - Benefits of Antioxidants

Double Chocolate Baked Oatmeal topped with banana, raspberries, peanut butter, and desiccated coconut.

Banana Walnut Bread Baked Oatmeal

Banana bread brings back a lot of memories for me. Going to the farmer's market, getting a loaf or two, then enjoying generous slices at home. That was the life. Unfortunately banana bread ain't that great for you, with all the added refined sugars, oil,  n' such. However, there is a way you can enjoy delicious banana bready-ness, with out all the added nasties... In the form of a warm, cake-y bowl of baked oatmeal, fresh out of the oven. No added sugars, and the perfect size for one. And let's not forget the walnuts interspersed throughout, lending a crunch to every bite. It's perfect for those days when you want to reminisce about the good old days, or, of course, when you just feel like banana bread.

Banana Walnut Bread Baked Oatmeal topped with sliced banana, blackberries, mulberries, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. 

Crunchy Peanut Butter & Banana Baked Oatmeal

Calling all peanut butter and banana lovers! This is definitely the oatmeal for you!!! I guess I knew that it would be yummy, because peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chips (which are optional but highly recommended)? What could go wrong? But when I dug in and took my first bite, I slowly floated my way up to heaven. This must be one of the best baked oatmeals I have ever had, and trust me, I've definitely had my fair share of them. The inside was all cake-y, with peanuty-ness and banana in every bite. And the chocolate chips, they really sealed the deal. I love how they get all melt-y and warm, yet still retain their cute little shapes when baked in the oven. And if you're like me, and adore peanut butter (actually, I really love nut butters of any kind), then there will probably be another dollop put on top, because there is no such thing as too much peanut butter!!!

Crunchy Peanut Butter & Banana Baked Oatmeal with chocolate chips and sliced banana.

Pineapple Nice Cream

Is it just me, or has anyone else ever bought a bunch of wacky bananas? And when I say wacky I am talking seriously messed up. I'm talking banana asylum here. The bananas were green on the outside, yet all brown and mushy on the inside! I think the world has finally gone mad. Or at least the world's banana supply??? Or maybe I just happened to pick mutant bananas. Or maybe it was a sign from the banana god(dess?) telling me to MAKE SOME NICE CREAM ALREADY IT'S BEEN A DAY AND YOU HAVEN'T FROZEN ANY BANANAS YET WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU WOMAN?! Yeah, I think that might have been it.

By the way, if you haven't tried nice cream yet, I think the banana god might send you a message soon. It tastes weirdly similar (in an amazingly good way) to ice cream, but is way healthier and easily customizable, without all the added sugar and nasties in the regular stuff. Yup, nice cream is amazing, and I recommend you go freeze some nanners. Like right now.

Pineapple Nice Cream layered with blueberries and homemade everything granola.

Sticky Date Oatmeal

If you have never tried Sticky Date Oatmeal, or some other version of it, then please, make it one of your first priorities immediately. Or even better, eat it now. This oatmeal is probably one of my favorites, which is surprising seeing as how it doesn't contain chocolate. The first time I tried Sticky Date Oatmeal I was like "meh", but that was most likely because I did not add enough dates. Yes, it is defiantly not wise to skimp on the dates. As they soak and warm up in the oatmeal, they become all soft and caramel-y...Who would want to have less of that??? Anyways, the second time I tried, I used a better amount and promptly fell in love. I rarely ever eat the same oatmeal recipe twice, but I've already eaten this one two times in one week! Well, now I suppose it's quite obvious that I definitely recommend giving this recipe a shot.

Sticky Date Oatmeal with banana, homemade cookie dough nut butter, kiwi, and blackberries.

Nanner Bread Oatmeal

In case you were wondering, "nanner" means banana. I just find it funner . . . more fun to say. I mean, the word "banana" itself is a very amusing word to play around with, especially if you say it as "baNANA", but I find "nanner" to be just a little bit more, I don't know . . . entertaining? Intriguing? Riveting? Maybe even a bit more elegant (especially if you say it while making a creepy face)? And if you don't believe me, I think that you should try saying it. Out loud, right now. Come on. It doesn't matter where you are, or who you're with. Although, if you happen to be at a very important fancy dinner with a famous and rich celebrity person who may become a potential client, I would suggest that you hold off. Because I must be honest, if I was thinking of investing some of my hard-earned money in a company, I'm quite sure that I would be put off if the person I was meeting with suddenly said, or even muttered "nanners" spontaneously and completely out of the blue. Of course, if you can somehow skillfully weave the word "nanners" into a serious business conversation then by all means, go ahead. I'm not going to stop you.

Nanner Bread Oatmeal with raspberries, blueberries, walnuts, coconut cashew butter, kiwi, a dried fig, and a coconut maca chocolate heart.

Chocolate Oatmeal

Oatmeal is an extremely versatile food, and can be completely transformed and customized to your liking, and let's not forget how many health benefits it provides. It can be topped with any number of things, from chocolate chips, to nut butter, to different kinds of fruit, the options are endless. Heck, you could top it with worms if you wanted to. But I think I'm going to stay away from that option for quite a while...

So I've decided to start off this blog with a simple, but still very yummy, form of oatmeal. Chocolate Oatmeal! Who says you can't have chocolate for breakfast?!

Chocolate Oatmeal (using cacao powder) topped with raspberries, blueberries, mulberries, cacao nibs, and a drizzle of cashew coconut nut butter.