Sunday Morning Traditions

Like I previously stated I love food.  Breakfast is one of my most anticipated meals of the day just a step ahead of dinner and supper.  I lay awake at night dreaming of what I will create in a few hours.  Sunday mornings are a favorite breakfast for us all!  With all the hectic that goes along with getting 4 little ones ready for church, figuring out lunch plans and making sure I am presentable, I decided a long time ago I needed a regular habitual breakfast to ensure the morning moves along according to schedule.  A lot of tweaking later we have a must have favorite that the kidos beg for during the week but know with the exception of special days like birthdays this will only grace our table on Sunday ~ Baked Oatmeal!  We love ours loaded with chocolate chips (yeah, probably not the healthiest but at least most of the rest of the recipe is very healthy not to mention delish! and chocolate is a bean right?! ) I actually love to sprinkle mine with any variety of fresh fruit- blueberries, strawberries, bananas.  Here is the recipe.

Mama's Baked Oatmeal

• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 c oil (I prefer coconut or olive oil)
• 1c milk (have tried pretty much every kind and it is all good!-cows, goats, almond, rice, coconut)
• 1 c honey (I love using half maple syrup)
• 2 t salt
• 2 t bkg pwd
• 1 T ground flax
• 3  1/2 c oatmeal
• sprinkle of cinnamon
• toppings can be eaten on top or baked into

Bake at 350 for 20-30 min or until nicely browned and set.

Serve hot with cold milk and toppings

All ready to bake ~ Yum coming up!

I wish one could post smells

Now as I already stated personal health issues have put my eating habits on a different path.  I have started a program with my doctor where I am grain and dairy free at least for now.  I can not tell you how much better I already feel! But that's a story for another day.  I am learning about Paleo eating and how it isn't totally as weird/gross as I had pictured.  Yes I love grains, especially my own freshly ground wheat but for now I am a student of learning about how I can create delicious in the realm of things currently in my food plan.  I was craving waffles.  My doctor challenged me to come up with my own nut flour based ones. My first thought was CAPITAL yuck!,  that he hadn't a clue what he was talking about,  but figured it was worth a try.  After combing the internet for recipe ideas,  I took a few I thought sounded decent and put them together and wowza I actually have something great to look forward to my self!  I posted one of my versions on Facebook earlier this week. Here is my latest version--mama's new Sunday morning tradition!

My Favorite

Almond Flour Waffles

• 1c almond meal
• 1/2 t bkg. pwd
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 T ground flax
• 1 t vanilla
• 2 T coconut oil
• 3 eggs separated
• 1/8 - 1/4 c coconut or almond milk

Mix all ingredients together except the eggs whites.  Beat whites till stiff then add.  Add enough of the milk to make a nice consistency.  Bake in hot waffle iron making sure to grease before each one.  These seem to bake quicker then regular ones so watch them carefully making sure not to over do.

This morning I had 1/2 a banana and maple syrup from my favorite Midwestern farm, Glenna Farms on top of my yummy

Another plus is stepping on the scale for my weigh in and being able to celebrate officially losing 10 lbs!

I'm telling you...It's the little things.