No-Bake Breakfast Cookie Balls

Well, hello there friends. I have a pretty easy and yummy recipe that I've managed to take pics and take measurements of that I can share with you.

This is just one of those things that was born out of necessity and the desire to keep my kids from telling me "I'm hungry" 15 minutes after breakfast. It worked. They loved making them and eating them!

They are filling and fun to make.

Here's what you need:

2 cups Rolled Oats
1 cup Peanut Butter (I had smooth on hand but chunky would be fantastic) or the nut butter of your choice
1 small to medium ripe banana
1 T honey
sprinkle of cinnamon

Place oats and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl, break the banana into small chunks add the honey and cinnamon. Moosh together as best you can with a fork or spoon, then roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty. If it seems too mushy, add a little more oats.

Once thoroughly combined, begin rolling into ping pong sized balls. We made 14.

This is a nice base for any other add ins. Flax seeds would be great, raisins or cranberries, chocolate chips...

I am going to refrigerate these in sandwich bags for easy snacks for the kids.

Why Have I Never????

In all my life, I have never ever experienced the joy of the "Tuna Melt." I've missed out on the deliciously satisfying flavor and the ease of preparation!! Until last week, I'd never tried one or made one...even my hubby is absolutely head over heals for my newest addition to our dinner menu.

May I present to you...

The TUNA MELT

You just need a few items...For my family of four, I used two cans tuna, but I have just used one as well.

Tuna

Mayo

sharp cheddar

lemon pepper

scallions

celery

jalapeno

True Lemon crystals or lemon juice (I like the crystals because it doesn't make your mixture wetter)

Before you prepare your mixture, you need to prep your bread of choice. I used whole wheat buns.  Line your pan with foil, and place your halves open faced on top. Place them in a 350 degree oven while you are working on the mixture.

Place your tuna in a mixing bowl, add a small amount of mayo (I used like 2 tbsps) 1 packet of True Lemon (or squeeze on wedge of lemon) lemon pepper to taste, and your finely chopped veggies.  For my kids I left out the jalapeno pepper, then added it after I made their sandwich.

Take your bread out of the oven and top one half with your mixture (I used an ice cream scoop) and the other half with a slice of cheddar...(these are kind of thick..I know...but that's how we roll)

Place them in the oven for 6-8 minutes

Flip the cheesy bun on to the tuna side...serve with a lettuce leaf and a thick tomato slice, and your choice of side. (Mine was zucchini from my garden seared in olive oil)

                                                   Enjoy!! And tell me if you make yourself one!!

My own delicious deception...

I am full fledged in love with my garden. I check on it every day, water it, weed it, stand in the middle of it and search for new fruit. Well, we just harvested some of our first fruits the other day, some yellow crooked neck squash and zucchini.  I sliced up one of the squashes and seared it in butter on the stove...it was heaven.

Today, I got home from the gym and checked my garden..There was a beautiful yellow squash just happily growing on the  plant. I plucked it. Washed it. Then shredded it with my cheese grater.

I put two eggs in a bowl, beat them, added a little half & half and salt, and the shredded yellow squash. I put a pat of butter in a frying pan, then added the egg mixture. I continued scrambling my eggs until they were the consistency I love. I served a little to each of my tots and myself. It was DELISH!! Each kiddo cleaned their plates...so ya, score mom!! I totally got them to eat some wonderful vegetable right up!

Piece of Cake Cake Mix Cookies

I bought a box of cakemix on clearance the other day.  It was the "good kind" made with whole wheat and cane sugar...so buying it on clearance was a score on my part. They didn't have their boxed icing mix this time...which was no biggie, so it has just sat in my cupboard for about a week.

I decided (while boiling macaroni for lunch today) that we needed cookies after lunch.  So I browsed for cake mix cookies, and this is what I came up with.

1 box cake mix
2 eggs
1 stick butter

Heat oven to 350

melt butter

combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl until blended.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Place in oven for 7-10 minutes and remove. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.

You can add all kinds of goodies to them, and even frost them, but we liked ours just like this! :)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Two things I made yesterday...

Been wanting a huge headband for about a month...I love to wear buns and ponies, but they don't look so great with a big ol hat on....so I found this on ravelry...I used a skein (not all the way up) of red heart collage...I love how it striped.

Secondly, the kids and I were watching "Sid the Science Kid" on PBS yesterday morning, and he made ice pops with his parents...of course my little monkey asked if we could make ice pops too, so last night we did. We bought teensy little Dixie style plastic cups...I had some lollypop sticks for another project, and we bought a delish orange mango juice from TJ's and we had bananas...thats all ya need. Slice your banana really thick and place in bottom of the cup, stick your popsicle stick into the banana, pour in juice and freeze...The kids ate theirs this morning. My one year old pretty much ate the whole thing, and my three year old was done after his teeth got too cold. Me? Well, I waited until the kids had their naptime and thoroughly enjoyed my ice pop...even if it is grey and snowing outside.