Becoming More Domestic: Baked Oatmeal

As we finish up Week #2, I was able to give 2 recipes a shot! First, was baked strawberry banana oatmeal and let me tell you it was AMAZING! I eat oatmeal about everyday and Audrey eats it a lot as well so I had to give this a try:

Dry ingredients:
2 cups Quick Oats
Cinnamon
Peanut butter chips
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking power
sliced strawberries
1 banana

Wet ingredients:
2 cups of milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons of melted butter
2 tsp. of vanilla

The original recipe I seen suggested using chocolate chips but we were all out so I threw some Reese's peanut butter chips in instead and I think it was probably better than the chocolate! Gave it just enough of a peanut butter taste with the strawberries and the bananas.

Audrey mixed all the dry ingredients excluding the banana into a greased pan. While I worked on the wet ingredients. After the dry ingredients are settled into the pan, slice up the banana and add some more strawberries to the top. I also threw in some more PB chips for fun!

Then added the wet ingredients over the top and let it settle into the bottom of the oats. Bake for a half hour and voila! I added some more brown sugar to the top and put it back in the oven and set it to broil for a few minutes. My first time ever using the Broiler on the oven. Chris would always use it when he would make stuff but I never knew what it was for (I know, I know, this is kids stuff!) Anyways that just took this from good to great! The brown sugar caramelized over the strawberries and bananas and it was like heaven!

Couple things I will change for next time:

1. Cut up the strawberries into smaller pieces that are in the dry ingredients. Big slices are good for the top for presentation but smaller pieces in the oats would be easier.

2. Add sliced bananas into the dry ingredients. Remember the sliced bananas are only on the top and Audrey and I love bananas so why not spread them throughout the oats!

This dish is almost like dessert and am considering making this for my sister's baby shower. How good would this be with a cup of coffee in the afternoon at a shower?! I am actually surprised how good it turned out. I will possibly always have this on hand for our busy mornings here rather than a package of premade oatmeal. Takes just as long to throw this into the microwave to heat it up!

I also tried out Chicken Tortilla Soup! I love it when we eat out but figured I would give it a shot in the crock pot!

Throw all of the following in the crock pot and stir:

1 onion

1 can of Ro-tel

1 can of corn

Chicken Broth

1 cup of water

1 taco seasoning packet

Then add 2 chicken breast.

How simple?! This is my kind of recipe!

 

I decided to leave out the beans because I want Audrey to eat this. I may have even crossed the line with the onions... next time I will chop them up much smaller so she will not even notice them.

Now I made this last night, put it in the fridge and will turn the crock pot on while I am at work today. Now look at that planning! Very unlike me! I will post a follow up after dinner tonight!