Banana Pancakes

Oooooh LAWD! There really is nothing I love more than moist, delicious, pancakes.

These have a flavor mix of bananas and vanilla, deliciously sweet, but not overpowering!

I topped mine with sugarfree syrup and PB2, but the toppings are completely up to you!

This recipe makes about 5 small pancakes. Super easy and yummyyyy!

YOU WILL NEED:

1 banana

1/3 cup oats

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 container of Vanilla Greek Yogurt (fat free by Yoplait)

DIRECTIONS:

Spray a nonstick skillet with nonstick spray, set to no more than medium heat.

Blend the ingredients in a blender.

Cook 1/4 cup of the batter in the pan at a time, this will ensure you get 5 equally sized pancakes! If you want fewer, but bigger pancakes, measure at your leisure! ---- that rhymed.

Wait for the bubbles before flipping!

In joy, enjoy!

-jLv

Oatmeal Muffies

Y'all. Oats. You already KNOW I'm in love with them. But this easy, simple, breakfast-to-go/anytime sweet treat is somethingggg else! I love it, I really do. I hope you do, too.

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cup raw oats

1 egg white

1/2 banana

1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 tbs splenda

1 tsp peanut butter or nutella

1/2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F

Mix everything in a bowl. I like to mix the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another. Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix until well combined.

Bake for 11 minutes! 

Remove from oven and top with sugarfree chocolate chips or whatever topping you'd like!

If you don't finish them in one day, I suggest storing in the fridge and warming up in the microwave if you want them warm again :) But, they taste pretty good cold, too!

In joy, enjoy!

jLv

Overnight Oats

Almost all of you know I have a weird obsession with all things oats. I also have a ridiculous addiction to overnight oats. While sometimes I prefer the warm taste and feel of regular oatmeal, I love the chewy and rich taste of overnight oats. You can really play around with the flavors, too. For this recipe, I will be giving you info for Chocolate Apple Pie Overnight Oats!

YOU WILL NEED:

1/2 cup raw oats

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 container of Yoplait FatFree Greek Yogurt, Apple Pie Flavored (or whatever flavor you want!)

1tsp vanilla extract

1 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS:

Place everything in a container or resealable jar. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE!

Allow to sit overnight, preferably. A few hours will do, just fine. NOM!

*I also like to add bananas in mine so the bananas can soak in the mix too, but you don't always have to!

If you only have an hour to spare, cut out the greek yogurt, keep everything else the same. You will need to add a sweetener like Splenda or Stevia if you want that sweet taste, though. Otherwise, it'll just be unsweetened bitter chocolatey tasting. However, some people like that!

In joy, enjoy!

-jLv

Banana (oat) Bread

It should be illegal how much I love bread. And oats. Especially banana oat bread. Especially banana oat bread that has cranberries in it. The cranberries are optional, but either way, here's some simple, easy, Banana Oat Bread for you! Healthy, moist, delicious, and SIMPLE.

If you're feeling extra indulgent (and still guilt-free!) use all-purpose flour, instead! I do it...a lot. Ha!

YOU WILL NEED:

5 RIPE bananas

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flower OR raw oats

1 - 1 /2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 olive oil

1/3 cup Splenda, Stevia, or whatever sweetener you prefer

(Optional) 1/2 cup dried cranberries (just mix in before baking)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven 350 F

Grease TWO 7.5 x 3.5 x 2 inch bread pans with non stick spray

Blend the bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract in a blender. You can hand stir, if you wish, just make sure you mash the bananas first.

In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: flour OR oats, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and sweetener.

Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir until well blended.

Pour into the bread pans and bake for 40-45 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it's done!

Sprinkle some powdered sugar, if you want!

In joy, enjoy!

-jLv

Stuffed Bell Peppers

These are a filling, yummy treat. I used to HATE bell peppers, but when cooked like this?? Ugh, they're perfectly semi-sweet, and juicy, and compliment the meat perfectly. I serve them with a side of turkey bacon-wrapped green beans. If you want that recipe, I will post it upon request! Enjoy these - it's kind of hard not to!

YOU WILL NEED:

4 Bell Peppers (Green, yellow, red, orange, yellow, whatever you like!)

1-1.25 lb ground turkey

1 packet Spicy Ranch Seasoning

1 yellow onion

Nonstick spray

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Low fat or fat free mozzarella cheese

Minced or chopped black olive for topping (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 F

Grease a baking dish (preferably one that fits the peppers tightly, I use a 8x8 baking dish)

Cut off stem from the cap/top of bell peppers, and remove the seeds/white membranes from inside the peppers. Chop up the caps, set aside.

Chop up the yellow onion. Add to the chopped pepper caps.

In a large skillet on medium heat, sautee the onions and chopped pepper caps. I prefer using nonstick spray for this part, as I like to reduce the amount of oil for the whole recipe. Add salt and pepper. Remove from heat once mixture begins to soften and slightly brown.

In another pan on medium-high heat, cook ground turkey using olive oil.

Once fully cooked, remove from heat and drain any liquids.

Return to heat, no higher than medium-low.

Add in the onion/pepper mixture and ranch packet. Stir until fully mixed.

Spoon the mixture into the peppers, packing tightly.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, add cheese (and olives) on top.

Bake for another 10-15 minutes.

NOM.

In joy, enjoy!

-jLv