On The Go Breakfasts

If your family is anything like ours, breakfast time is a rather stressful scenario. You'd think the decision between cereal and oatmeal was the equivalent of a life or death situation to our toddler! Once the excruciating decision is finally made and breakfast is served, her still sleep-ridden hand moves in slower than slow motion on the course of bowl to mouth. Whew! We still have to fix hair, find matching socks, and feed the baby!

Here are a few "grab and go" breakfast ideas that may work for your family. Please leave a comment if you try any of these and also if you adapt them in any way! A few suggestions are included for changing the original recipes a bit and we'd all love to know what worked for everyone or what didn't.

Do you have other quick breakfast ideas?  Please share in the comments!

All recipes have been adapted from original recipes on www.allrecipes.com

Get Up and Go Breakfast Cookies 
 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup wheat and barley nugget cereal (e.g. Grape-Nuts™)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, orange juice concentrate, and orange zest. Combine the flour and baking powder; mix into the fluffy mixture until blended. Stir in cereal. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden. Remove from cookie sheet for cooling.

Possible Alterations
Substitute applesauce for the butter
Use all purpose whole wheat flour

Oaty Cereal Bars

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 3 cups toasted oat cereal
• 1 cup salted peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar and honey. Bring to a boil for one minute, then remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter until well blended. Stir in the cereal and if desired, stir in the salted peanuts. Press into the prepared pan. Allow to cool until firm, then cut into bars.

Possible Alterations
Use cheerios and substitute trail mix for peanuts
Use Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal

 

Playgroup Granola Bars (as seen in the September newsletter)

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Possible Alterations
Use whole wheat flour
Reduce brown sugar to 1/2 cup
To keep them chewy, try reducing the cooking time. Watch for the edges to turn brown (the middle may still appear undone).
Add more cinnamon and use apples
Replace the raisins with dried cranberries


Hope your family enjoys these recipes!