Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Berry Breakfast Bake

Breakfast is essential in healthy eating; I strive to eat within the first hour of being up to help me manage my eating throughout the day. Due to crazy schedules, breakfast is often skipped.  This breakfast bake can be made ahead and eaten during the week.  

I loved making this dish Saturday evening.  My family enjoyed a sit down, warm breakfast on Sunday.  The leftovers were great on Monday and Tuesday morning.  This is a great "what do I have sitting around" dish.  I happened to have some Craisins and also fresh cranberries; I added them.  I added the chia seeds to the original recipe; if I'd had any flax seed, I would have added that too.  

My photo doesn't show ripe bananas because I didn't have any.  What I did have was a quart freezer bag of mashed bananas. We buy lots of bananas, but occasionally they ALL hit the overripe state.  We peel and throw them in a bag; they are great for smoothies, banana bread, or casseroles like this.  There is no need to throw away overripe bananas or force feed yourself four in one day anymore. 


INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (divided)
  • 1/2 t baking powder
  • 1 t cinnamon
  • 1/4 t salt
  • 1/4 cup natural maple syrup
  • 1 cup almond milk (or skim)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 T unrefined coconut oil (or unsalted butter)
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup mixed berries, frozen or fresh (divided)
  • 3 T chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup cranberries


DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. Lightly grease a 9 x 11 baking dish
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients (use half of the walnuts).  In another bowl, combine milk, egg, syrup, vanilla, and coconut oil. 
  4. Spread banana slices on bottom of baking dish. Top with half of the berries. Sprinkle dry oat mixture over fruit layer. Pour liquid ingredients evenly over oats. 
  5. Sprinkle remaining walnuts and berries on top.   Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is browned and oats have set. Allow to cool. 





DIFFICULTY- medium (it has a lot of ingredients)
TIME: 15 minute prep; 40 minutes baking time
SOURCE:  adapted from Schall Fitness








2 comments:

  1. Good reminder about bananas! I throw too many away!

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    Replies
    1. I've got a huge bag of them in my freezer right now! John keeps buying them and not eating them fast enough. I am probably adding 2 a week to my stockpile...probably time to make this breakfast again!

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