Oats and Peanut Butter Energy Bites

These are healthy no-bake energy bites which we can be had before or after a workout. These energy balls are also called as protein balls, power balls, truffles. These will be liked not only by adults but also by kids. Nowadays, I have started making different varieties of energy bites. Some are baked and some are not, like these. These energy bites are a hit among everyone. These bites will make a perfect gift for your friends and family.

The best thing about these energy bites are, you can add anything of your choices like chocolate chips or raisins or chopped dates. Instead of peanut butter, you can also use almond butter. I made these one day when I was searching for healthy snack recipes and I stumbled upon many different energy bite recipes which are easy to prepare, no- bake and is not time-consuming. These are quick to- go snacks, which is very healthy and filling too.

This time for the MFB challenge we have to post "healthy Bites" and I this these no-bake Oats and Peanut Butter Energy bites are perfect.

I have become a huge energy bite aficionado. This is a simple, foolproof method. Within minutes a perfect, healthy, nutritious, and delicious snacks can be made and that too without any effort. Hope you all will try this and let me know how it turned out.
Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Peanut Butter- 1/2 Cup
3. Dried Cranberries- 1/4 Cup
4. Flax Seeds- 2 tbsp
5. Chia Seeds- 1 tbsp
6. Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp
7. Honey- 2 tbsp

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and make small round bite-sized balls. Keep them in the refrigerator till set for about 1 hour and enjoy.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Healthy Overnight Oats for Breakfast

Recently I started liking these overnight oats for breakfast. I love to experiment by adding different toppings like chopped berries, crushed nuts, nut butter, coconut flakes, a variety of fruits and so on. These will make you full till lunch and is easy to customize the flavors.

I feel these easy make-ahead breakfasts are essential for busy mornings. Overnight oats are rolled oats/ old fashioned oats, which are soaked in a liquid overnight. By the next morning, the liquid is well absorbed by the oats and can be had along with a choice of toppings. Sometimes I will just have along with chopped bananas. A perfect no-cook breakfast which is loaded with nutrients, fiber, vitamins, proteins, and will be liked by kids.

You can add any sweetener like the honey, brown sugar, dates syrup, chocolate chips for the kids. A healthy option to take to school/ office. By mixing all the ingredients the night before, a creamy, hearty, healthy, satisfying and absolutely delicious dish will be ready the next day morning.
I like the soaked raw oats rather than the gummy texture of the cooked oats. If you give these a try, please let me know.
Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cups
2. Almond Milk- 1/2 Cup
3. Greek Yogurt/ Plain Yogurt- 2 tbsp
4. Cinnamon Powder- 1/4 Tsp
5. Honey- 1/2 tbsp
6. Chia Seeds- 1 tsp
7. Peanut Butter- 1 tbsp

Method:

1. In a bowl/ glass jar, add the oats, along with almond milk, yogurt, Chia seeds, cinnamon powder, honey, and peanut butter. Mix well till everything gets incorporated well. Refrigerate overnight.
2. In the morning, add your choice of chopped nuts, berries, and granola. Enjoy a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Oats Idli with Coconut chutney

Idli with coconut chutney is a staple breakfast at my place. Idlis and dosas were a part of my childhood. My mom used to grind the soaked urad dal and rice and let it ferment overnight for amazingly delicious steaming hot idlis and dosa for the next day breakfast. We loved this along with my mom's special coconut chutney or sambhar.
 Nowadays lots and lots of different varieties of idlis and dosas are made worldwide. One of them is made by using oats. This does not require fermentation and can be made instantly. Even on a busy day, just temper the ingredients and steam this to perfection. A deliciously protein-rich, nutritious breakfast is ready within half an hour.

In India, we used to buy the idli- dosa batter often as it was readily available in the market.After coming to the US, I started making regularly the idli batter at home. When I do not have a stock of the homemade idli batter, this instant oats idli is a standby. I have paired oats idli with my mom's special coconut chutney. Though many varieties of chutney recipes are available online, I prefer this coconut chutney.
This month's MFB challenge is to prepare any breakfast item and here is the new healthy recipe which is very nutritious and will be like by all.

I have been preparing oats idli for so long and this recipe is a fail-proof. If you are trying to include oats in your daily diet, then this is a perfect option to try. low in carbs and a healthy breakfast is made using oats and grated carrots. Oats are rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins do not compromise on taste. Try this highly nutritive dish and let me know.

Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Semolina- 1/2 Cup
3. Grated Carrot- 1/2 Cup
4. Grated Ginger- 2 tbsp
5. Oil- 1 tbsp
6. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
7. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
8. Chana Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Coriander Leaves- few (optional)
10. Curd- 1 Cup
11. water- 1/4 Cup
12. Salt- as required
13. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp

Method:

1. Grind the oats to powder and keep this aside.
2. Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Drop the urad dal, chana dal, grated carrots, grated ginger and coriander leaves.
3. Roast for about 2 minutes on a low flame. Add the semolina and powdered oats. Fry for some time till it turns lightly golden in color. Switch off the flame.
4. Drop these in a mixing bowl and when it cools down, add the curd, required amount of water and mix well till it resembles a batter consistency.
5. Before pouring in the idli molds add the baking soda, mix and pour a spoonful of batter into each mold and steam for about 15- 20 minutes or till done. Enjoy the steaming hot idli breakfast.

Coconut Chutney

Ingredients:

1. Grated Coconut- 1 Cup
2. Ginger- 1 small piece
3. Green Chillis- 2 nos
4. Tamarind- 1/2 tsp/ a small piece
5. Salt- as required
6. Oil- 1 tbsp
7. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
8. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Curry Leaves- few

Method:

1. Grind the coconut, ginger, green chilies, tamarind and salt to a fine paste by adding little water.
2. For tempering, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Add the urad dal and curry leaves. Switch off the flame and enjoy with the above-made idlis.

An InLinkz Link-up

Delicious and Power packed Energy bites

A no-bake energy bites which are a perfect snack post workout. I found these energy bites recipe from Deliciously Ella's blog which has many healthy and unique recipes. I love her blog because they are so simple, easy and there are many different varieties of healthy dishes.
In these bites, I have added oats, which was not in the main recipe. These energy bites are super versatile.You can add your own choice of chocolate chips, peanut butter, desiccated coconut, dried cranberries and so on.

When I saw the recipe, I tried and made around 10- 12 bites, but after seeing the demand for these bites from my husband and daughter the next day I made a big batch. By this time I emptied a big pack of dates. I liked the addition of coconut oil.
My friend always makes different varieties of energy bites. I have tasted them before but never tried making them at home. But when I saw these cuties in Ella's blog, all the ingredients were handy and so here it is on my blog.

These energy bites are super easy to make and will take less time. These are loaded with proteins, fiber and will keep you full and active. Hope you all like this. Try this out and let me know.
Ingredients:

1. Dates- 2 Cups
2. Almonds, Pecans, and Pistachios- 1 Cup
3. Coconut Oil- 1 tbsp
4. Raw Cacao Powder- 1 tbsp
5. Oats- 1/2 Cup
6. Hemp Seeds- 1 tbsp
7. Chia Seeds- 1 tbsp
8. Flax Seeds- 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Powder the nuts in a blender till crumbled well. 
2. Blend the pitted dates along with hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, oats and raw cacao powder in a food processor till everything gets mixed and powdered.
3. Add the coconut oil and the powdered nuts along with blended dates mixture for about 1 minute till it forms a sticky dough.
4. Roll the mixture into little balls and store it in airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy when needed.

Oats Lace Cookies

Who wouldn’t like a crispy, lacy, scrumptious cookies? These oats lace cookies are one of our favorite cookies which will get over within minutes of baking. These thin, crispy oatmeal cookies will be the star among all the other delicacies in parties.

Just melt the butter and sugar, then once cooled add all the other ingredients and bake for less than 10 minutes. Simple and easy cookies can be made within no time and with very fewer ingredients.

The cookies, while baking, will spread so bake them in batches. This quantity will make about a whole lot of cookies, which can be gifted to friends and also can be enjoyed on cold evenings. Just try this one and I guarantee that you just cannot stop on one as they are buttery and so addictive.

Ingredients:

1. Rolled oats- 1 ½ Cups
2. Sugar- 1 Cup
3. All-Purpose Flour- 2 tbsp
4. Butter- ½ Cup
5. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp
6. Eggs- 1 no

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
2. Heat butter and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring frequently until the butter and sugar have melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the flour and mix well.
3. Remove the pan from heat and drop in the vanilla essence and let it cool for 10 minutes.
4. When the mixture is warm, add the egg and stir till it combines. Drop the oats stir until well distributed.
5. Spoon 1 tbsp of the batter on to the parchment paper, leaving about some space between each one.
6. Spread using the back of a spoon into a single layer. Bake for about 6-8 minutes, watching closely from over baking. They will turn golden brown. Bake the cookies in batches as they spread.
7. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the parchment paper. Store in airtight container when cool.

Quinoa & Oats Laddu- A healthy and nutritious snack...

These healthy and nutritious laddus are made out of quinoa and oats which turn out to be very appetizing and a delicious snack. If you think that quinoa is only good for salads and pilafs, then you should try this combination of quinoa along with oats.

Oats help to control the blood sugar and keep you feeling full and quinoa adds a little extra protein. The amazing combination of both will make your day.

In this laddus all the dry ingredients are roasted, then mixed along with jaggery, ground and rolled in the form of laddus using clarified butter. The addition of nuts will improve its taste to another level. Nuts are a good source of vitamins, fibers, and essential minerals. Flax seeds are called as the most powerful plant foods on the planet. These contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acid. Chia seeds are a common substitute in vegan cooking. These chia seeds also contain rich omega-3 fatty acids. All together this snack is a  full power packed one which can be had after a nice workout.

This laddoo was introduced to me by my dear friend. As she gave me these laddus, I fell in love with them and asked her for the recipe. I got the recipe and here it is today in my blog space. Very healthy and deliciousness filled laddus, which will be liked by all. Hope you all will try this out and let me know.

Ingredients:

1. Oats- 2 Cups
2. Quinoa- 2 Cups
3. Peanuts- ½ Cup
4. Cashew- ¼ Cup
5. Almonds- ¼ Cup
6. Pecans- ¼ Cup
7. Chia Seeds- 2 tbsp
8. Flax Seeds- 2 tbsp
9. Jaggery- ¾ Cup
10. Ghee/ Clarified Butter- ½ Cup

Method:

1. Roast all the ingredients on a low flame, one by one. Keep these aside.
2. Grind to a fine powder once cooled along with jaggery powder.
3. Mix the powder along with ghee and roll them round in the shape of laddus and enjoy.

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

We love anything made out of oats and my daughter will fall head over heels for these cookies as this contains all of her favorite ingredients like the chocolate chips, raisins and most importantly oats. She loves homemade granola bars, which I made earlier and always asks me to make batches as soon as they get over.

These oatmeal cookies have turned right by which I mean soft, chewy and perfectly baked which are loaded with the generous amount of chocolate chips and also raisins. Kids will hang around these cookie jars till it gets over and will demand more.

Old fashioned oats have a lot of health benefits including low cholesterol and reducing certain diseases. They are nutritious food that can easily be incorporated into your daily diet. Include oats in your life and feel healthy.

This cookie recipe is a no-fail dish and do not overbake them. Just try this out and everybody will love this.

Ingredients:

1. Butter-6 tbsps
2. Sugar- ¾ Cups
3. All-purpose Flour- ⅓ Cup
4. Whole Wheat Flour- ⅓ cup
5. Baking soda- ¾ tsp
6. Oats- 1 ½ Cups
7. Salt- a pinch
8. Egg- 1 no
9. Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp
10. Raisins- ½ Cup
11. Chocolate Chips- ½ Cup

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Beat butter and sugar till creamy and fluffy.
2. In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, oats, and salt.
3. Combine the butter mixture with the dry ingredients, and add egg, vanilla, and raisins. Fold in chocolate chips. Mix well and spoon.
4. Scoop out small amounts on the parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes, until tops are dry to the touch are cookies become brown

Oats and honey Granola Bars

I am not a big fan of energy or granola bars. But these changed my thinking completely. I tasted these once when my daughter after her swimming class bought these granola bars from the vending machine.It was so crisp and not much sweet, I loved it. I thought of giving it a try at home as homemade is always the best.

I googled and got this recipe. It’s fun and easy to make the bars. This is a basic recipe. You can add different nuts, different cereals, different grains of your choice. This is so easy to make that before it gets over I will be ready with the next batch. Now this has become our family favorite. The specialty of these granola bars are you can make these as you wish, just that you should know the base. Try this out and let me know.

Adapted from Bettycrocker:

Ingredients:

1. Old fashioned oats- 2 ½ cups
2. Honey- ¼ Cup
3. Sugar- ¼ Cup
4. Organic Coconut oil- ¼ Cup
5. Vanilla Essence- ½ Cup
6. Raisins- ¼ Cup
7. Baking Powder- ½ tsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl mix the coconut oil, honey, sugar along with vanilla extract.
3. Meanwhile grind ½ Cup oats in a blender till fine. Mix the regular oats along with powdered oats to the above made honey mixture.
4. Stir well so that all the ingredients blend well.
5. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spread the granola mixture evenly in the pan. Press firmly and evenly.
6. Bake for about 15- 20 minutes. When done, cut into desired shapes while still warm or else they will firm and crisp as they cool. Break into pieces and enjoy.

Banana Oats Loaf cake and some childhood memories…...

I thought about this banana oats loaf cake is when my husband bought two big packs of old fashioned oats. I didn’t know what to do with the huge packs. My daughter told me to try making varity of dishes with oats. From then on in my house every other day it will be either oats dosa or  oats upma and so on.

One day I thought of preparing a cake with these oats and there were ripe bananas and within an hour an amazing loaf cake was ready. My kids enjoyed them thoroughly.

I was thinking, when we were kids, making a cake was like a dream come true. We used to have a round electric oven, which is used on special occasions to make a basic vanilla sponge cake which we eagerly waited for. My dad used to prepare yummy desserts like kheer, gulab jamun, ice creams, vanilla cake. We used to wait for sunday as that is when he prepares all these varity of desserts and me and my brothers are his assistants. My mom will be free from cooking on sundays. Feeling nostalgic. And not to forget my dad’s famous fluffy omelette, now also whenever we demand he prepares with so much love and effection.Now I am missing it very badly :( I will post that one day in my blog.

Now we will get whatever we want within minutes, either we can buy it or make it at home.  This loaf cake is one such appetizing dessert which will be cherished by all.

Just try this delicious, healthy cake and let me know.

Ingredients:

1. Banana- 2 nos
2. Oats- 1 Cup
3. All Purpose Flour/ Maida 1 Cup
4. Sugar- ¾ Cup
5. Vanilla essence- 1 tsp
6. Raisins- ½ Cup
7. Butter- ½ Cup
8. Eggs- 2 nos
9. Milk- ¼ Cup
10. Cinnamon Powder- ½ tsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream the butter and sugar, till pale and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla essence and beat well with a blender.
3. Meanwhile mash the bananas, cinnamon powder and add this to the above mixture.
4. Fold the flour alternating with the milk and mix well. Add raisins. Dust the raisins with 1 tbsp of flour and add to the cake batter or else they will sink to the bottom.
5. Grease a loaf pan with butter and dust with flour. Pour the batter in the greased cake pan and bake for about 40- 50 minutes or a skewer inserted comes out clean.