Gluten Free Energy Balls

Gluten Free Energy Balls

• 1 cup gluten free oats - you can use old-fashioned oats whole, or process them a bit for a finer texture
• 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs (optional)
• 1/3 cup honey 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl, cover, and chill for 30 minutes.

Once chilled, roll into 1" balls and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. Makes 20-25 balls.

Original recipe can be found at: Gimme Some Oven.

Hurricane Oatmeal Cake

 Hurricane Oatmeal Cake

1 c  quick cooking oats
1 1/4 c boiling water
4 egg whites
1 c sucanot
1/4 c honey
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (or greek yogurt)
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1 t sea salt
1 t cinnamon

Combine oats and water in a small bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, beat eggs, sucanot, honey, and applesauce (or yogurt) until blended. Sift together flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon and add to sugar mixture. 

Add cooked oatmeal and mix well.

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For Topping:

Combine~
3/4 c unsweetened coconut
3/4 c sucanot
4 T melted butter
1/4 c chopped nuts (optional)
1/4 c milk

Spread over hot cake, and broil until topping is light brown and crunchy - about 2 minutes.

Overnight Cold Pumpkin Oatmeal

So here is my ultra-autumnal version of a fabulous make-ahead breakfast that is ready for you as soon as you wake up in the morning, and packed with good things to help get your day started right!

Overnight Cold Pumpkin Oatmeal

2/3 cup old fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup 0%fat plain Greek yogurt
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
6 T pumpkin  puree
Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to taste
Splash of pure vanilla extract
Pure maple syrup
Before you go to bed, mix all ingredients together except for maple syrup, seasoning with the spices to taste. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, scoop into individual bowls and top with a drizzle of maple syrup. Enjoy!

Serves 2

Crockpot Irish Oatmeal

Do you remember when I posted about loving breakfast foods, but hating the fact that breakfast takes place in the morning? Yup. Not a morning person. BUT, non-morning people unite and take heart! I have found a recipe for Irish Oats that I am in love with. You just throw everything into your crockpot before you go to bed, and wake up to a nice hearty bowlful of steaming oatmeal. {{cue angel chorus}}

 

Crockpot Irish Oats

1 cup steel cut oats (also called Irish Oats) - CANNOT substitute rolled oats!
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1 t cinnamon (opt.)

Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray - trust me, this will make clean up soooo much easier! Stir together oats, water, milk, and cinnamon if desired. Cover and set on warm for 8-10 hours. If you have an older crockpot, set on low. If you wake up in the morning, and the oats are too watery for your tastes, turn the crockpot up to high for a few minutes. - The original recipe called for dried fruit, but I thought the extended cooking time leached the sweetness out of the fruit, and into the oatmeal - which made the oatmeal taste good, but the fruit taste a bit bitter. I prefer adding my raisins/craisins/cherries/blueberries/whatever-fruit-I-have right before eating now. I also like maple syrup, honey, and yogurt as optional stir ins!

*This recipe works just as well with non-dairy milks such as rice, almond, and soy.

Enjoy!