Overnight Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1 cup steel-cut oats

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dried figs (I don't use these)

4 cups water

1/2 cup half and half

Directions:

In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients and set to Low.  Cover and let cook for 8 to 9 hours  Stir an remove to serving bowls.  Start it before you go to bed and it will be finished by morning!

You can have endless variations with this.  Play with the ingredients and see what you can create!

Paradise French Toast

I really have to write up the recipe for this.  It was my favorite breakfast for a while in my pre-no-dairy-only-eat-what-is-good-for-you diet. I got it at a local diner and tried to throw it together. It was delicious. Not good for you by any means, but SO delicious.  My only regret was not toasting the coconut first. It's basically just french toast (to my credit it IS whole wheat french toast) topped with caramelized bananas, caramel, and coconut. Yum.

Cheesecake Pancakes

Ingredients:

Pancakes:

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

2 cups Bisquick mix

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Strawberry Syrup:

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 cup strawberry syrup for pancakes

Directions:

1. Slice cream cheese lengthwise into four pieces. Place on ungreased cookie sheet cover and freeze overnight.

2. Brush pan with vegetable oil or spray with cooking spray; heat over medium heat.

3. Cut cream cheese into bite-size pieces; set aside. In large bowl, stir Bisquick mix, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, milk and eggs with whisk or fork until blended. Stir in cream cheese.
4. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/3 cup batter onto hot pan. Co until edges are dry. Turn; cool other side until golden brown.

5. In small bowl, mix strawberries and syrup; top pancakes with strawberry mixture.

Nutrition:
 per serving: Serves 5 (three pancakes and 3 Tbsp topping each)

Calories: 580
Fat: 26g
Cholesterol: 140mg
Sodium: 830mg
Carbohydrate: 75g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 39g)
Protein: 11g