Chocolate

Name: Healthy Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 ⁄2 cup uncooked quick oats; 1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 large egg; 1 large banana, mashed; 1 1 ⁄4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 ⁄4 cup unpacked brown sugar; 2 tsp baking powder; 1 ⁄2 tsp baking soda; 1 ⁄2 tsp table salt; 1 ⁄2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided; 8 fl ozplain unsweetened almond milk

5 Easter Traditions to Start this Year

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

As my kids get older I’m realizing more and more just how important the time we spend together is. Today I’ve gathered up 5 fun Easter traditions you can start with your family. These are some fun family traditions will help your family have an extra fun things to do this Easter.

5 Easter Traditions to Start this Year

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Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt

Plastic Easter Eggs – medium – large size work best
Glow Sticks – smaller ones that fit into your Easter eggs
Tape
Candy

Easter Bunny Foot Prints

Cut out this bunny foot print template and leave a trail around your home. I’ve seen people using powdered sugar, flour, baking soda, or baby powder for footprints. Just keep in mind any pets you may have in your home and their safety.

Peep S’Mores

Peeps
Hershey’s chocolate squares
Graham crackers

Place graham crackers, chocolate and a peep as shown in first picture. Zap in the microwave until soft. (Or place under broiler.) Top with another graham cracker square.

Easter Egg Pancakes

Pancake recipe – this is our recipe for fluffy pancakes but any recipe or mix will do the job
Food color

Divide your pancake batter into smaller bowls to dye different colors before cooking. Add a bit more fun with pancake molds.

Mini Egg Cookies

Mini Eggs are delicious just the way they are and I am a huge fan of them. I can’t get enough of them. If you are looking to spread them out though make some cookies. Two of our favorite ways to enjoy them, as cookies and not straight out of the package, are:

To use them in place of jam in Thumb Print Cookies. A little dot of chocolate or vanilla frosting to hold them in place.

Use them in place of chocolate chips in Chocolate Chip Cookies. You might want to go a little lite on the mini eggs because they are a lot of chocolate.

Healthy Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

I’m sharing another muffin recipe with you because we love how easy they are to grab and go in the mornings around here. These ones are healthy banana, chocolate oatmeal, yum! We grab them before sitting down to our read aloud, which is how we start our school mornings, Hubby can grab one on the way out the door for work.

Healthy Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins

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My first tip would be, I only had regular semi sweet chocolate chips, and I wanted smaller pieces so I threw them into my little food processor. Best choice. It gave a consistent chocolate through the muffin, plus I sprinkled a little over the tops, delicious.

What you need:

1 ⁄2 cup uncooked quick oats
1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large banana, mashed
1 1 ⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
1 ⁄4 cup unpacked brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ⁄2 tsp baking soda
1 ⁄2 tsp table salt
1 ⁄2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
8 fl ozplain unsweetened almond milk

How to make Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat 12 muffin holes with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, milk, oats, vanilla extract and egg; set aside 5 minutes for oats to soften and then stir in banana.
In a separate bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Stir flour mixture into yogurt mixture to moisten ingredients (do not beat – the dough will be very thick).
Reserve 1 tablespoon chips; stir in remaining chips.
Spoon batter by heaping tablespoons into prepared muffin holes; sprinkle each with a few reserved chocolate chips.
Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes.

These are simple to make. Very quick, so quick I didn’t take any photos during the making process.

Simply toss and mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Either line your muffin tin with liners, or grease your muffin tin. If you use liners, give them a spray with non-stick spray. These are very sticky.

Healthy Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Healthy Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients

1 ⁄2 cup uncooked quick oats
1 ⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large banana, mashed
1 1 ⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
1 ⁄4 cup unpacked brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ⁄2 tsp baking soda
1 ⁄2 tsp table salt
1 ⁄2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
8 fl ozplain unsweetened almond milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat 12 muffin holes with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, milk, oats, vanilla extract and egg; set aside 5 minutes for oats to soften and then stir in banana.
In a separate bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir flour mixture into yogurt mixture to moisten ingredients (do not beat - the dough will be very thick). Reserve 1 tablespoon chips; stir in remaining chips.
Spoon batter by heaping tablespoons into prepared muffin holes; sprinkle each with a few reserved chocolate chips. Bake until golden brown and a tester inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

These are perfect for making ahead on the weekend for the week ahead. they make a great breakfast on the go, a nice snack to pack as you head out the door running errands or head to different extra curricular activities.

A Brownie in a Mug – Single Serve Dessert

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

This recipe today is because sometimes, especially as a parent you just a sweet treat, a dessert that you don’t have to share with the little people that control your life, a single serve dessert. A brownie in a mug the perfect thing for that it is the easy, perfect one person dessert.

A Brownie in a Mug – Single Serve Dessert

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Sometime you might need a little more than a single serve I know, and that would be why I have a number of brownie recipes in our recipe box, such as vanilla, chocolate and such.

I want to first off say there are two ways to cook these, one way is quick and simple: microwave. About a minute and it’s done depending on your microwave.

The other way is the oven. I have used both methods… loving how quickly it cooks in the microwave, but we were a microwave-less household for quite a few years by choice so I often used my oven to make this when I needed a pick me up.

This is great treat at the end of a long day. Maybe top with a little sprinkling of powdered sugar. Or mix up a little frosting. Oh man, vanilla ice cream would be amazing on this, you know, if you can hold on on eating all the ice cream, which I can not do.

*I am back to having a microwave and this delicious single serve, just for me, I am not sharing treat, ready in just 5 minutes.*

A Brownie in a Mug - Single Serve Dessert

If I make this in the oven I tend to throw this in when I making supper because I don’t want to run the oven just for this delicious single serve dessert, but that is just me, you do you.

What you need:

4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla

How to make A Brownie in a Mug:

Get a microwave or oven safe mug or, I like to use, ramekins.

Mix together the ingredients. Order doesn’t much matter. Mix well.

In the microwave for 1 minute or until a toothpick comes out clean. If 1 minute doesn’t do it, put it back in for 10 seconds and recheck, repeat until cooked through.

OR if you are using your oven:

Bake in oven at 350 for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Delicious! It is light, and chocolaty! There is nothing like quick and easy desserts for one to turn your day and night around after a long, hard day.

A Brownie in a Mug – Single Serve Dessert

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Dessert for one is coming right up with this Single Serve Brownie in a Mug recipe.

Ingredients

4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Mix together all ingredients in a ramekin or other oven or microwave safe dish.
Microwave for 1 minute.
Bake in oven at 350 for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

If you have a toaster oven but no microwave, you can definitely use that instead of your oven. You’ll use less power and heat your home less running a toaster oven than you will using an oven. this single serve chocolate dessert is going to taste amazing which ever method you use to make this brownie in a mug.

Chocolate Granola Squares

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

That sweet tooth that needs to be satisfied, but there isn’t much in the cupboard, and certainly nothing that you actually want to eat. Do you know that feeling? That feeling is what lead us to these granola squares, chocolate granola squares that is. This are amazing, right up there with some of my favorite brownie recipes, only these are easier to make.

Chocolate Granola Squares

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We had chocolate chips, thank you Costco, these huge bags are great. We also had a bag of granola thanks to Kellogg’s – we used Dark Chocolate Coconut nourish granola. Due to my darling daughter having a similar addiction I did as a child (teen, and adult) to peanut butter we also had that. Three ingredients is all this recipe takes. It’s not often I write that.

What you need:

1.5 cup Chocolate chips, melted
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups granola – we used Kellogg’s Dark Chocolate Coconut nourish granola

How to make Chocolate Granola Squares:

You’re first step is to cover a square 8X8 pan with wax paper, make sure it is completely covered, over hanging a bit so you can lift the squares out later.

Now melt half your chocolate chips and spread over the bottom of your pan. Refrigerate until set.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, granola and stir until smooth. Scrape the mixture into the pan and flatten to an even layer.

Spread the remaining (melted) chocolate chips on top and refrigerate until set. Unmold and cut into bars.

I dare you to try and let this just sit in your fridge. If you can though, they are good for about a week there. But there is no way they they are going to last that long… trust me, these chocolate granola squares are going to be calling your name.

Chocolate Granola Squares

Yield: 9

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

1.5 Cup Chocolate chips melted
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups granola - we used Kellogg's Dark Chocolate Coconut nourish granola

Instructions

Line an 8-inch square baking pan with wax paper so that there is overhang on 2 sides. Spread half of the melted chocolate chips in the pan and refrigerate just until set.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, granola and stir until smooth. Scrape the mixture into the pan and flatten to an even layer. Spread the remaining melted chocolate chips on top and refrigerate until set. Unmold and cut into bars.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

Chocolate or coffee? How do you choose between them, or do just combined them into chocolate chip coffee muffins like this? Maybe grab a cup of coffee to enjoy with this delicious snack too though, just to boost your caffeine intake. Because if you are a parent, you are probably needing a caffeine boost.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins

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What you need:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp instant coffee
1 cup milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

How to make Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins:

First step is to mix your instant coffee grounds with milk in a small bowl. Set this aside, the coffee grounds will dissolve more as it sits.

Mix together your dry ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) while the coffee dissolves.

Add in the wet ingredients including the coffee and milk mixture. Mix well.

Fold in your chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips are best for these I find, but regular ones are great too! Don’t over mix the chocolate chip in, you want fluffy muffins, but flat tough muffins.

chocolate coffee muffin recipe - muffin batter

Scoop out the batter into either a greased muffin tin or a muffin tin with cupcake liners. I like to use a 1/8 or 1/4 cup measuring cup to fill them equally and to insure equal cooking.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them set for a couple minute before you try to move them onto a cooling rack.

These are one of my favorite muffin recipes. I love making these during the colder winter months, curling up with a cup of coffee and a great book. Invite some friends over for coffee and talking, or take them to the next homeschool group meetings for a treat for the moms.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

I love making these during the colder winter months, curling up with a cup of coffee and a great book.

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp instant coffee
1 cup milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

First step is to mix your instant coffee grounds with milk in a small bowl.
Mix together your dry ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) while the coffee disolves.
Add in the wet ingredients, and mix well. Fold in your chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips are best for these I find, but regular ones are great too!
Scoop out the batter into either a greased muffin tin or a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Chocolate

5 Easter Traditions to Start this Year