Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

This is a little late in being posted. But your fur babies or in my case fur grandbabies will always appreciate a good, healthy snack/treat. I made these for my grand fur babies for Christmas. They loved them. They are super easy and I made some Christmas cut out treats, but they are kind of small and these fur babies are on the bigger size. So the square/rectangle ones are probably more to their liking. What ever size your 4-legged bestie is make these - Valentine's is coming up!

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup natural peanut butter (smooth or chunky - the ingredients in mine are peanuts!)
• 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (I used plain, unsweet almond milk)
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats (I buy organic)
• 1/4 cup broth or water
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix peanut butter, milk, maple syrup and broth in a large bowl. Once combined add all the dry ingredients (flour, oatmeal and baking powder). Stir into well combined. Roll or press out onto a clean, floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick.

If desired use cookie cutters to make shapes.

Or just slice into square, rectangles or whatever. They can be close together as they rise. I used parchment paper on my cookie sheets. Cook for about 25 minutes. Be sure to totally cool before serving and keep them in the frig as they will mold.

Have fun treating your favorite fur babies!!!

Black Bean Burgers (WFPBNO)

This is a recipe by Dr. Michael Greger & Robin Robertson. It's on the web so no copyright issues should be involved. I've made it before exactly as written and they are so delicious. However, today I didn't have any mushrooms and even though it only calls for 1/3 cup you should use them. They aid in the moisture content. Also be sure to only pulse because it can be easy for the bottom of the mixture to get too mixed and become pasty. These hold together so well and are so delicious. I served them on whole wheat burger buns for a filling and compliant meal. You won't be disappointed in this. I am posting my version below.

• 1 cup organic old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1 1/4 inch piece fresh turmeric (or 1/4 teaspoon ground), grated
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• 1 can 15-ounce salt-free black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (if you use fresh parsley use 1 tablespoon)
• 2 teaspoons white miso paste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Preheat oven to 375. Pulse the oats, walnuts and turmeric in a food processor until finely ground.

Add onion, beans, tahini and flaxseeds and pulse until combined.

Add the remaining ingredients and pulse to mix well. Pinch some of the mixture between your thumb and index finger to see if the moisture content it well. It should stick together well. If too wet add more oats. If too dry add a tablespoon of water.

Transfer the mixture to a work surface and divide into four even portions. I made a long and just cut it in half and then cut each half in half again so they would be the same size.

Shape into a patty about 1/2-inich thick.

Bake on a parchment lined sheet about 25 minutes.

Make a sandwich with all of your favorite burger fixings.

Enjoy!!

Refrigerator Oatmeal (WFPBNO)

We eat these oats for breakfast most mornings. Every now and then we will have a whole grain bagel or whole grain English muffin. These are just so easy, fast and filling. The recipe below is the way we make these, but you can add whatever fruit you have prefer or have handy. Add or remove nuts and flavorings and use your favorite plant based milk. You just make this, add it to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and then remove from frig, stir and eat. Doesn't get any simpler!

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground flax seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon ground chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon organic raisins
• 1 teaspoon raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
• 1 teaspoon roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1 teaspoon raw, unsalted, sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon granola
• 3/4 cup organic soy milk

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.

Add milk and stir well. Place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Remove from frig, stir and enjoy!!

So easy and delicious!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Cups

I don't post very many sweets. I just don't have a sweet tooth but I do love some chocolate. I've seen several variations of this type of dessert online and decided to make a healthy version. I hope you'll enjoy the recipe and give these a try!

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (the only ingredient should be peanuts)
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup vegan dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons prune puree

Heat the peanut butter and syrup in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until mixed well and it's warm.

Add the oats to the peanut butter mixture and stir well.

Using a 1/4 cup measure portion the mixture into a silicone 12-cup muffin pan. 

Use a spoon or your fingers to press the mixture firmly into each cup.

Rinse out your pan, dry well and add the chocolate and prune puree. Stir well until chocolate is all melted. Do this over a low heat so you don't scorch the chocolate. Pour a tablespoon of chocolate over each cup to cover the oatmeal mixture. 

Place in freezer for at least one hour.

Pop out however many cups you want to serve. Keep leftovers in the freezer.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Overnight Oatmeal

 This is one of our all time favorite breakfasts. Spend a few minutes assembling the mason jars one night, I make four at once. Then you have breakfast for two mornings. We eat these cold, but you could heat them in the microwave if you prefer warm/hot. The recipe is for one jar; add the ingredients listed to each jar you make.

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup plant milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup blueberries (mine were frozen, they thaw overnight in the frig)

Place all the ingredients, except blueberries in the jars. Start with oats.

Then add the remained of the ingredients.

Give it a good stir. Make sure  you get those chia seeds stirred up well or you will have clumps of seeds in the morning.

Top with the frozen blueberries.

Cover with lids. Place in the frig overnight. Stir the next morning. You may need to add more liquid.

Enjoy!!!1

Overnight Oats with Peanut Butter & Blueberries

We really enjoy overnight oats. Make them the day before, put them in the frig and just take out and eat the next morning. You could heat these up I suppose, but we never do. I have several different ones that I make and these are one of our favorites. I normally don't eat bananas but I can have a 1/2 of a smashed banana in this breakfast dish. The ingredients below make one pint mason jar.

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1/2 small banana, mashed
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter (buy peanut butter that has no added ingredients)
• 3/4 cup plant-based milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

Add all of the ingredients, except for the blueberries to your mason jar.

Give it all a good stir. Be sure those chia seeds aren't clumped up.

Top with blueberries. Don't stir.

Screw on the lid to the jar and place in the frig for breakfast tomorrow. You can actually make 3 days worth and they'll keep fine.

Enjoy!