Since I now have a child in 3rd grade, which is the grade they start state tests, I have been thinking about healthy breakfasts a LOT lately. We usually eat breakfast between 6:30-7:00am and then Mads usually eats lunch around 10:30am. I need something that is going to help tide her over until then. This is especially important once the testing begins. A good, healthy, breakfast is so VERY important during this time, it helps the kids stay focused on the task at hand. I try to find recipes that are either high in protein, or fiber. These Orange Strawberry Banana Muffins using Quaker Oats are perfect, especially when paired with a glass of Tropicana Orange Juice.
When sitting down to create this recipe, I knew I wanted to include Oranges and Oats. Then I remembered one of my favorite juice combinations.....Orange Strawberry Banana, and BAM! It hit! I could make a muffin combining all of those! I just didn't know how. So, off to Pinterest I went and found these Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins from Tonii at Blue Skies Ahead. Seriously, is she not the cutest?!?! Anyway, her muffins were exactly what I was looking for! I just added some Orange Zest and, well...as they say...the rest is history.
Orange Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Very slightly adapted from Blue Skies Ahead
Ingredients
2.5 Cups Quaker 1-Minute Oats
1 Cup Lowfat Vanilla Yogurt
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1.5 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2 Ripe Bananas
1-2 TBS Orange Zest
6-8 Ripe Strawberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease 12 Cup Muffin Tin and set aside.*
Chop Strawberries and set aside.
Place remaining ingredients (excluding Strawberries) into a food processor or blender and process/blend until thoroughly mixed and the oats are very finely chopped.
Pour mixture into each greased muffin cup, about 2/3 full.
Place a few Strawberry pieces on top of each muffin.
Bake 15-20 minutes. Start with 15 and then check to see how they are doing, you don't want to over cook these muffins.
*You can use cupcake liners to line the tin, I do not recommend that though as they stick horribly to the liners.
Tonii shares in her post that her version is just under 130 calories per muffin! That's AWESOME! I am sure the added Orange Zest does not add THAT many calories to these muffins.
As some of you know, I am BIG on freezer cooking! These muffins freeze VERY well! I love doubling batches of muffins to freeze. Check out this Instagram Video on how to flash freeze muffins, once the muffins have been flash frozen, just pop them into a zip-top bag and place them back in the freezer. They will keep for about 3 months. When you are ready to use the muffins, take desired amount out of bag and allow to thaw. You can also pop them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or until warm.
Also, in my Google+ story, I mention my recipe for prepackaged Oatmeal Packets. You can find that recipe here, Strawberries and Cream Instant Oatmeal Packets.