Baked Oatmeal

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Baked-Blueberry---Peach-Oatmeal

Really you could do any fruit that sounds good to you.  I haven't tried anything but peaches and blueberries yet.

• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I don't pack it and add just a little bit of honey)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup canola oil (I want to try substituting applesauce for this next time.  If you try it let me know how it turns out!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can (15 ounces) sliced peaches in juice, drained and chopped (I substituted about 3 fresh peaches)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• Additional fat-free milk, optional

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients and stir until blended. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in peaches and blueberries.
• Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. (you could use a 9x13 also) baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until top is lightly browned and a thermometer reads 160°. Serve with additional milk if desired. Yield: 9 servings.

Hamburger Buns

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com, but I can't find the link anymore. These hamburger buns are very hearty and tasty.  You eat one and you are full (at least how big I make them).  These with grass-fed beef hamburgers using these seasonings in the meat are amazing.

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 1/2 cups flour (I do half whole wheat/half all-purpose)
• 1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 egg

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat milk, water and butter until very warm, 120 degrees F (I usually wait for it to be steaming, but I let it cool a tad otherwise it might kill the yeast).
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 3/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Mix milk mixture into flour mixture, and then mix in egg. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls, and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly (I actually flatten them quite a bit). Cover, and let rise for 30 to 35 minutes.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. For Hot Dog Buns: Shape each piece into a 6x4 inch rectangle. Starting with the longer side, roll up tightly, and pinch edges and ends to seal. Let rise about 20 to 25 minutes. Bake as above. These buns are pretty big.  (So I didn't understand these instructions very well when I made hot dog buns once.  I just rolled them into pretty thin logs and let them raise.  I made them just a little thicker and longer than a hot dog)

Vegetable Lasagna

This is another great recipe I got from Kath Eats.

Vegetable Lasagna

Ingredients

• 3 cups pasta sauce (like Classico Tomato and Basil or Spicy Tomato and Pesto)
• 16 ounces 2% cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 9 whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese
• Approximately 4 cups mixed vegetables (I did about 5 cups or so and just packed as many vegetables as I could in the pan) (Some veggies that I liked in it are: spinach, shredded carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms, and zucchini). I think fresh basil would also be really good in this if you have it.

Preheat oven to 400*.  Spray 11 X 8 (I used a 9x13) glass casserole dish.

1. Combine cottage and parmesan cheeses.
2. Place 3 uncooked noodles in pan.
3. Cover with 1 cup pasta sauce, 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 vegetables, and 1/3 mozzarella.
4. Repeat 2 more times.
5. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake one hour.

Makes about 8 servings, ~350 kcal per serving.

I used regular whole wheat noodles and didn't cook them beforehand.  With all the juices from the vegetables it turned out great, but it took me a little longer than 1 hour to cook (like an additional 15 to 30 minutes).  Our children really liked this, but once again I had to blend it up for them a little in our food processor otherwise they wouldn't have eaten the vegetables.