A fresh start means fresh ideas and fresh foods.  I’ve been eating healthier with all my meals and breakfast is no exception.  I know most of us buy the instant oatmeal but try making it from scratch next time!  I promise it will taste great and it’s much better for you because it will not have all that sugar.

This is a very good and healthy breakfast which I am trying implement more and more with my all the family but specifically my toddler. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber and is excellent for the heart! There are gazillions of oatmeal variations out there but today I bring you some simple old fashion Banana Nut Oatmeal!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 c fat-free milk
• 3 TBLS firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 c Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
• 2 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed (about 1c)
• Pecan pieces (optional)
• Dash of Honey:) (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

In saucepan, bring milk, brown sugar, and spices to a gentle boil; stir in your oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 1 minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Remove oatmeal from heat. Stir in mashed bananas and pecans and a dash of honey.

NOTE: The bananas, honey and pecans can be completely optional!! If you just want plain but tasty oatmeal, the cinnamon and nutmeg are quite wonderful.

ENJOY:)

How would you make your oatmeal? Nutrition is so important but don’t forget to get moving!!

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our ideas and tips for a healthier you! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

I don’t normally like Pecan Pies because they are too sweet but I find that ones not made with additional sugar, are easier for me to eat. My Grandma made fantastic pecan pies. She never burned the edges and the insides were always settled well.

This pecan pie recipe makes 3 pecan pies. I don’t know about you but I always have to make more than one; two for the event and one to keep home or giveaway.

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz. pecans (Fisher or your own. I used the ones my FIL shelled for me.)
• 2 sticks margarine (Bluebonnet)
• 16 oz. package light brown sugar (I use Great Value from Walmart)
• 1 heaping tablespoon self-rising flour
• 16 oz. bottle light corn syrup (Karo- Great recipes there!)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 6 eggs (Eggland’s Best)
• 3 regular size (not deep dish-if you do use deep dish, will only make 2) frozen pie crusts

DIRECTIONS

Melt margarine in the microwave for about 2 minutes or until melted and set aside. Place brown sugar in a large bowl. Work out any lumps. Add a heaping tablespoon of self-rising flour and stir until the flour disappears into the brown sugar. Add a bottle of light corn syrup. Then add vanilla and stir until thoroughly combined. Add melted margarine. Fold carefully into the mixture. Fold until the margarine is thoroughly worked in and disappears.
In a separate bowl, crack open six eggs and loosely beat the eggs with your spoon. Fold the eggs into the pie mixture until they disappear. Add pecans and stir until completely coated. Pour the mixture evenly into the three pie shells. If you have any left and have extra pie crust, you could pour into a mini pie pan. Make sure there is the same amount in each pie. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 350. Cook pies until they swell and then fall. When they fall, they are done. Remove and cool for about three hours. Store on the counter or in the refrigerator.

Do you have a family pecan pie recipe?

Over the next week I’ll be bringing a few Mexican treats like today’s Mexican Candy.   Coming from a partial Hispanic background and marrying into a Hispanic family, I’ve had the pleasure to eat some really delicious sweets that are super easy to make and VERY budget friendly!

There are a few versions of Mexican Candy but today I’m bringing you a very basic one.  One that looks like a praline of sorts.  It literally only takes minutes to make and a couple of minutes before they’re ready to eat.  It definitely isn’t something I’d make often but for an occasional sugar rush, it sure hits the spot!

As with many recipes, you can completely omit the pecans but because we’re nuts ’round here, we put them in all kinds of desserts!

If you have your own version, I’d love to hear it!

P.S. If you’re looking for an organizer for your wax paper, foil, and plastic wrap (and they cut perfect every time!), check out the WrapMaster – It’s my favorite!

Mexican Candy

Ingredients

• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of pecans (whole or pieces)
• 7 Tbs milk
• Wax Paper

Instructions

Cook sugar & milk ingredients in saucepan until you a small ball forms in a glass of water. Meaning, drop just a tiny bit into a glass of water and if it forms into a solid, then it’s ready. Mix in pecans. Pour spoonfuls out onto waxed paper and let cool. VIOLA, it’s done. Told you it was fast!

My rating: 4.0 stars It deserves 5 stars but since it’s terribly sweet, I gave it 4.

Please welcome my guest poster. Lynn is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to three. She loves to cook and try all kinds of recipes. You can follow her adventures in the kitchen at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures.

My family loves cookies, and I am glad because cookies are one of my favorite things to bake. I love trying new cookie recipes because I am always looking for a better cookie. I also like tweaking my favorite recipes to come up with new versions.

One of the recipes that I tweaked was my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. I wanted to try a cookie that had chocolate and toffee in it, because I love that combination. I tried a few things, and I finally came up with a really good version of a Chocolate Toffee Pecan Cookie.

These cookies are so good. I sent a plate full of them to work with my husband and everyone loved them. I also served them to friends, and they all liked them. I had trouble not eating them, they are so good. I entered these cookies in the Bass Pecan recipe contest, and they won the grand prize of $1,000.  I love these cookies. If you like chocolate and toffee, give these a try.

These cookies are large cookies. They are made to be like a cookie you would buy in a coffee shop or bakery. I have tried making them smaller, but it changes the texture. You want these large.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 c. plus 2 TB flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt
• 12 TB butter melted
• 1 c. brown sugar
• ½ c. sugar
• 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 4 ounce English toffee bits
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans, very finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325. In a bowl, mix dry ingredient. In mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars until well blended. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla. Batter will appear slightly greasy. Add dry ingredients, until blended. Add chocolate chips, pecans, and toffee pieces. Scoop in ¼ c. balls onto cookie sheet. I use an ice cream scoop. Place 6 on each cookie sheet. You should only place 6 per sheet because these are large cookies and they spread out. Bake for 15 minutes.

Yes, I realize these Banana Popsicles are more of a summer treat but sometimes you just crave something that is cold!  These are super easy to make and just plain good.  It’s one of the few ways my oldest will eat a banana.  Hey, it’s better than eating no banana right?  I just grabbed my bananas from the big ol’ section that Walmart has and uses them in this and some banana pudding!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 or 4 bananas, peeled and halved.
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 (6-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate  chips
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

Insert wood sticks into each banana.  This is optional and I chose not to do it but you may find it easier.  Brush bananas with orange juice.  Place on wax paper-lined cookie sheet, and freeze until firm.

Melt chocolate chips and butter in microwave or stove; stir to blend.  Cool slightly, then spoon over frozen bananas.  Immediately roll in chopped nuts.  Keep in freezer until serving time.

BAHAHAHHAHAHAHA…gotcha huh!  Oh….I SO crack myself up.

So my SIL read my Hershey’s post and was inspired to use some Hershey’s chocolate that she had handy in her own pantry!  You know, cookies are really easy to make, each batch usually makes a lot, and they’re always hit with everyone!

Anyways, this post here was submitted by my ever so lovely, very humorous, beautiful SIL!  What?  You never know when I might need something eh???  heehee

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 C. Butter Flavor Crisco
• 1 C. Granulated Sugar
• 1 C. Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 tbs Milk
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 C. Flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 C. Oats (quick or regular)
• 1 C. Corn Flakes (crushed)
• 2 C Hershey’s semi-sweet Choc chips
• 1 C. Pecans
• 1 C. Coconut

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350′. Grease baking sheet with crisco. Combine first 5 ingredients, beat at low speed mixer until well creamy. Add all dry ingredients. mix at low speed until dough is well mixed.

Using a ice cream scoop, drop 3″ apart onto greased sheet. Bake 13-15 minutes or until edges are lightly brown but centers are slightly soft. Cool 3 minutes on sheet then remove with spatula to rack to set.

Makes about 2 dozen 5″ cookies…..