Starter Mix for Pancakes and other things

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter

Instructions:
1. Measure the sifted flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Use a wire whisk to blend thoroughly.

2. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter until thoroughly incorporated. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 months.

Muesli 3

And yet another!  Everything here but the kitchen sink!

Healthy Breakfast Muesli Recipe
This recipe is totally editable. If you don't like something then leave it out, and if you want more of something, simple add
more!

1 cup rolled oats
2 cups porridge oats
1 cup mixed nuts
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup linseeds
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup goji berries
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup wheatgerm
1/4 cup flaked almonds
1tbsp pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup barley or rye flakes
1 tbsp dessicated coconut
1 dsp cinnamon

and the secret ingredient: a big handful of Grapenuts! Delicious!

Mix this all together, put it in your sealed container, shake it, store it. Simple as that! You could also add in: a handful of
cornflakes, dried prunes, chopped hazelnuts, wheatbran, chopped dried apple.

Don't forget your awesome toppings, some yogurt, chopped fresh fruit or unsweetened tinned peaches.

Muesli 2

This recipe does not call for a toasting in the oven.  I think that I might add the dried fruit after a short toasting in the oven of the rest of the ingredients.  I will let you know how it turns out.

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats
• 1 cup mixed nuts including macadamia if possible
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• ½ cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup dried ready-to-eat apricots , chopped 

Method

1. Tip the oats into a large airtight container and add the nuts, seeds, raisins and cranberries. Stir in the apricots.
2. To serve, spoon a portion into a bowl, pour over the milk and top with chopped fresh fruit. 

Muesli Recipes

In the tradition of trying to find ways of saving money, I have been trying muesli recipes to compliment my collection of granola recipes.

This from the BBC website.  I made some changes because I was making it with my grand-son Noah in mind and I don't think that too much in the way of dried fruit.  I changed saltanas for raisins, left out the hazelnuts because I didn't have any and also omitted the other dry fruit.  I will probably leave out the apricots and figs when I make it for myself since there is too much sugar in the fruits for a diabetic.

Ingredients

• 200g/7oz jumbo porridge oats
• 25g/1oz flaked bran or wheat germ
• 75g/3oz barley or rye flakes
• 50g/2oz hazelnuts, lightly crushed
• 50g/2oz flaked almonds
• 50g/2oz sultanas
• 50g/2oz dried, ready-to-eat apricots, roughly chopped
• 50g/2oz dried, ready-to-eat figs, roughly chopped

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
   
2. Place the oats, flaked bran or wheat germ, barley or rye flakes, hazelnuts and almonds on a large baking tray and toast in the oven for 10 minutes, shaking and turning in the tray halfway through. Take the tray from the oven and leave to cool: this should take only about 10 minutes.
   
3. Mix the toasted ingredients with the sultanas, apricots and figs. These fruits are only suggestions: you can use whatever you prefer, for example dried apple, mango, papaya, dates or cherries.
   
4. You can eat this muesli straight away with milk.
   
   c. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/basicmuesli_67724
   

About Oatmeal Plus

I've been eating the same thing for breakfast for the best part of four years and it may be time to name it. I think I'll call it Oatmeal Plus.

Put 1/3 cup regular oats into a microwavable bowl with 2/3 cup water. Microwave on high while you slice a banana and get out the plain, low fat yoghurt. Remove bowl of oats from microwave and give it a stir. Plop about 1/4 cup of yoghurt atop the oats. Toss the banana slices on top of the yoghurt and there you have it: Oatmeal Plus.

Mike likes his without the yoghurt and banana and with raisins and semi-thawed frozen blueberries. I think I'll call that version Oatmeal Plus for Him.

Any breakfast alternate suggestions? Any Oatmeal Plus alternate ideas?

Banana chocolate bars

This may be good for diabetics or those trying to eat slowly digesting carbohydrates:

Wholesome Banana Chocolate Breakfast Bars

- 200 grams (2 cups) rolled oats or mixed rolled grains
- 60 grams (2/3 cup) ground almonds, a.k.a. almond meal
- 30 grams (1/3 cup) dried, unsweetened grated coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 120 grams (4 1/4 ounces) good-quality bittersweet chocolate
- 4 very ripe, medium bananas, about 400 grams (14 ounces) when peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) whole almond butter (substitute olive oil, or slightly warmed coconut oil)

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a medium baking dish with vegetable oil.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, ground almonds, coconut, and salt. Set aside. Chop the chocolate so the largest pieces are about the size of a chocolate chip. Set aside.

In another medium mixing bowl, combine the bananas, vanilla, and almond butter, and mash thoroughly. Add the oats mixture and mix well. Fold the chocolate in gently.

Pour into the prepared baking dish, level the surface, and slip into the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is set and golden-brown. Let cool completely before slicing into bars. If you're not serving all the bars at once, I suggest you cut out only what you need. Cover the rest with foil and keep at room temperature.