Baked Oatmeal

I am always needing quick and easy things I can have for breakfast.  I found this recipe on Pintrest the other day and decided to try it with a few modifications.

Gluten-Free Baked Oatmeal Casserole
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup raspberries {any berries work}
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
2 cups milk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, half the walnuts, half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal).

In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.

Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar.

I didn't make mine Gluten free, just used regular oatmeal.  I also used frozen raspberries and peaches because that is what I had on hand.  I left the nuts out because I was being cheap.

I thought it turned out very good.  I just cut off a piece every morning and warmed it in the microwave.  Turned out to be very quick and a fun different way to have your oatmeal.  I will definitely make it again!

Apple and Onion Pork Chops

Last week I tried a new recipe for some pork chops and it was to die for.  Clint even loved it which makes it a super duper hit.

The recipe came with the food that we order every month (which is another post that I will post about some day).  Since the recipe came from there, I don't exactly know who to give the credit to so, if this recipe happens to belong to anyone that reads my blog, or may read it one day, or if you know the person this recipe belongs to, please let me know and I will gladly give credit where credit is due.

So, now that all that is out of the way, presenting Apple and Onion Pork Chops.

So yummy!

2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
4 center cut pork chops
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 medium apples peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons brown sugar

In a small bowl, combine the pepper, salt and garlic powder.  Rub over the pork chops.  Grill chops, covered, over medium heat for 7-9 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F and juices run clear.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onions and apples in butter until tender. Add brown sugar; cook until thickened and bubbly, Serve with the pork chops.

The only thing I did different was grill the pork chops on my George Foreman Grill rather than on the stove.  It was so easy and so tasty.  I will definitely be making this recipe again!

Tres Leches

This weekend we had dinner with Clint's cousin, Meagen and her husband, Brian.  She made the dinner, which was a delicious mexican casserole with rice and beans.  Soooo yummy.  I was in charge of the dessert so I made a Tres Leches cake.  This is my favorite dessert from Papasitos restaurants.  I have tried it at several other places but have never found one that was quite as good.  I tried to recreate the Papsitos version and I didn't get it quite right.  Maybe with a little tweaking I can get it right next time. It wasn't a bad cake, just not quite what I was aiming for.  I thought I would share the recipe anyway because it was still pretty tasty and super easy to make.

I cheated a little and used a box cake mix.  Some recipes I found online called for a type of pound cake but I thought I wanted something a little lighter.  So I just made and cooked the cake according to the directions on the box.

When it was done I let it cool for about 5 minutes and then I turned it into another pan that was just a little bigger.  In my mind it seemed like the bottom of the cake would be softer and absorb the liquid better.  Then I poked holes in it with a fork.

While the cake was cooling I mixed a cup of the whipping cream, a cup of the evaporated milk and a can of sweetened condensed milk.

 Then I poured the milk on top of the cake and refrigerated for about 5 hours.  This is one of those cakes that the longer it sits the more moist and better it is so you could even make it the night before and refrigerate overnight before serving.

The finished product.  Like I said, it was a good cake it just wasn't as moist as I wanted it to be. I will definitely make it again with maybe just a few modifications.

I added some whip cream and a strawberry.  It tasted like a moist fluffy strawberry shortcake.  Yummy!!

If anyone tries this recipe let me know what you think!