I Like Thursday # 161 ~ Yarns and Oats

Good Morning and Happy Thursday! 

These are my most recent crochet motifs.

These are little pansy, or maybe violet, faces from the book by

Chris.made.this

 My sewing machine is still under wraps and will be at least another week. 

Mr. Scrapatch is starting a new job on Monday and will be only able to work 

on all our home improvement projects on the weekends again. 

Our Boys are coming over Sunday to help.

Mr. Scrapatch was laid-off in January and although we are both officially retired, he likes to get up and go to work in the morning. So he has found a position that will enable him share his extensive experience with the younger generations. 

I will miss having him home during the days 

but will look forward to our evenings together.

Today is 

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

This week LeeAnna asked us if we have a special baked good for Easter.

We have many and they have changed over the years.

One constant has been that Mr. Scrapatch likes to have

 this French Toast Breakfast casserole.

If we have an Easter Brunch this is always on the table with ham

 and fresh fruit and all the other yummy food. 

This recipe  was given to me by a friend many years ago:

His preference is for raisin cinnamon bread; 

mine is oatmeal bread,

so I combine both of them in my version.

I also add a 1/2 cup of maple syrup to the saucepan syrup for the bottom of dish

This was never anything that my tween to teen to young adult children enjoyed

and I can take it of leave it, so I make it for my guy for early morning breakfast

 when we will have big family holiday meal like Easter in the early afternoon. 

He happily eats the leftovers warmed in the microwave for days. 

Lately, I have been trying to tempt him to like less sugary and healthier options.

Like Oatmeal.

He was never a fan and refused to eat it for most of his life.

I make overnight slow cooker oatmeal for myself.

The recipe is simple.

Slow Cooker Oats

Lightly grease a 2 to 2 1/2 quart slow cooker with a pat of butter.

Add 

4 cups water 

2 cups oats (I use old fashioned or steel cut)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Stir gently and cook on LOW setting for about 8 hours.

Turn it down to warm as soon as you get up.

Stir very gently. 

The texture will be silky and smooth and not too runny,

just the way I like with a splash of milk, 

drizzle of honey or maple syrup

 and fruit and nuts choice of the day. 

A good size dollop of Greek Yogurt is good, too. 

Play with the amounts to achieve the texture you prefer.

I have never gotten on board with the trend 

for making the cold overnight oats in the fridge.

I do store the leftovers in the fridge

to warm for a quick oatmeal and fruit breakfast the next day.

I have always liked my porridge warm. 

Leftover Oats Snack Cake

I sometimes use my leftover oats for making something like this.

The add-in variations of this are endless and all delicious. 

Even Mr. Scrapatch enjoys the snack cake version and so 

has finally started enjoying a bowl of oatmeal with me in the morning 

right out of the slow cooker.

This is the basic recipe for

Leftover Oats Snack Cake

1 to 1.5 cups leftover oatmeal

2 cups flour (white, wheat, almond, etc.)

1 teaspoon baking powder.

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon (nutmeg, allspice, ginger, etc.)

1 teaspoon vanilla (lemon, almond, etc.) extract

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup melted margarine or oil of choice or applesauce or nut butter

2-4 tablespoons of milk (yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, etc)

1/4 cup maple syrup (honey, molasses, etc.)

1/4 cup brown or white sugar (or omit) 

Mix together wet ingredients in measuring cup.

Stir together oats, flour and dry ingredients in large bowl.

Gently fold in wet ingredients.

Now the Add Ins:

Choose your taste of the day!

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/3 cup nut butter

1/3 cup yogurt or sour cream

1/2 cup dried fruit

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup of fresh berries

Lemon (or other citrus) juice and zest

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

1/3 cup fruit cup such as pineapples

1 cup of grated carrot, spices and 1/2 cup raisins

... as I said the possibilities are endless. 

This one has greek yogurt, fresh blueberries, chia seeds, 

lemon juice and zest, orange extract.

For this Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake version, 

I mixed 4 oz. of softened cream cheese with 1/3 cup greek yogurt,

2-3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and lemon zest

and dolloped it on top and swirled before baking.

Pan is an 8" square lined with parchment paper for easy removal.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes

or until tests done with toothpick.

Dusted with a little powdered sugar, this is my guy's favorite so far.

Here is one with two kinds of chocolate chips, pecans and raisins.

Drizzle with a little powdered sugar glaze for a little extra yum for dessert.

Enjoy!

In the Scrapatch, all is well.

My biopsy results were negative.

I feel good. It was just a routine test.

Happy Thursday!