Breakfast Food

I love Pinterest, but it can be so overwhelming sometimes. Especially when it comes to food. There are so many recipes, how do you choose which ones are actually good? While I know I've pinned my fair share of duds, here are a couple of breakfast options that are Cronin tested and approved. Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal Casserole
Ingredients  

• 2 cups oats
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup berries (I used strawberries)
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (I'll use less next time. It was a little too chocolate-y for Keith and me.)
• 2 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

 Directions

• Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a baking dish with cooking spray. 
• In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, walnuts, berries and chocolate. 
• In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.
• Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. 
• Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. 
• 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.

Pear Coconut Muffins (from Eat, Drink, Smile)

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 ¼ vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 ½ cups sweetened, flaked coconut
• 2 cups chopped pears
• ¾ cup chopped pecans 
• ¼ cup brown sugar

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
• Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners. 
• In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and oil. 
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
• Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture. 
• Add vanilla. By hand, fold in coconut, pears and pecans (batter will be thick). 
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. 
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly on top of muffin batter. 
• Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

I made the pear coconut muffins for Parker's first teacher, Ms. Bergen, who is moving to Ohio as a little way to say thanks for being so great. 

And since no post is complete without a picture, here's one of Parker with Ms. Bergen on her last day.

And here he is with some of his buddies. He's the little guy on the left. ;)

Note: These pics were taken on "wear your pjs to school" day and Parker had on the cutest pair. Apparently, they didn't last very long before he had to put on his backup onesie. Whoops!