Banana Oat Muffins

Overripe bananas: they're a little scary looking, and honestly quite disgusting when you open them, but they are the perfect motivation for making a baked treat. I love banana bread, and make it often, when I have three or more overripe bananas. This week I only had two, so I figured I'd have to mix it up a bit.

I found a recipe for banana oat muffins on allrecipes.com, the website I usually start with when looking for a good base recipe I can adapt for my pantry. I found a simple recipe with good reviews, and it looked super easy to make. I am sure you can substitute as you like with the recipe posted here as well. A good rule of thumb - if you're not down with sugar or oil, just use applesauce instead, and a little brown sugar. You can also incorporate yogurt or sour cream in lieu of milk or oil. Get creative, have fun, banana muffins are very forgiving. (Also check out our other banana recipes: Nana's Banana Bread, Banana, Pecan, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Best Oatmeal )

Banana Oat Muffins

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What's in it

1 1/2 C flour (you can do half whole wheat, half unbleached)

1 C oats

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 C sugar (you can mix and match brown and white)

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

cinnamon

1 egg, lightly beaten

3/4 C milk (I used almond breeze)

1/3 C oil (or applesauce - I grated an overripe apple into it)

1 C mashed ripe banana

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

optional: chopped walnuts, chocolate chips

How it's made

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cupcake/muffin pan with paper liners or spray with oil. (Recipe makes a baker's dozen.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the first 7 (dry) ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until just combined. Using the 1/4 C measuring cup, scoop batter into muffin pan, almost full. Bake 18-20 min until done.

Simple Granola

I could have sworn Alexis posted a recipe for granola, but I cannot find it. This here recipe is a very simple granola, perfect for beginners like me, just taking the first leap into the wonderful land of granola. (I snicker to myself just typing the word 'granola' as I think of how many people must think I'm a total hippy.) I personally never buy granola, as it seems to be very expensive, and not too tasty. I never developed a taste for it until now, after my first time making it.

Being a backpacker and pseudo-hippy, it's surprising I never caught onto the granola bandwagon. Recently every single non-western medicine doctor/nutritionist/acupuncturist I've seen has told me to stop eating cereal every day, except hot oatmeal. I tried doing hot oatmeal, but I just don't have time or energy to make it every morning. As a compromise I made my first batch of granola, from a recipe cut out of a food magazine (most likely Bon Appetit).

This homemade granola is like eating a supercharged breakfast that has magically found a way to have a healthy breakfast taste more like dessert. The toasty oats and nuts mixed with your favorite dried fruit is the perfect way to start your day, or have a snack before or after lunch. It's best on top of yogurt, but you could also eat plain or with (almond) milk. If you're feeling decadent, sprinkle some on top of your waffle or ice cream.

It's easy to make, it's economical, it made me a believer, and you only need to eat a little to keep you going a long time. To cut costs even more, visit the bulk food section of your local natural food store (like Monterey Market in Berkeley) for your ingredients.

Simple Granola

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What's in it

3 C old fashioned oats

1 C coarsely chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds...)

1/2 C unsweetened shredded coconut (if you like that sort of thing)

3 Tbls packed brown sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 C honey

2 Tbls oil

1 C coarsely chopped dried fruit (cranberries, golden raisins, cherries...)

How it's made

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Heat honey and oil together in a small saucepan on medium-low heat, until smooth and combined. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture. Toss until combined.

Spread evenly on the baking sheet. Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes total. Cool completely, then mix in dried fruit.

Store in an airtight container.

This recipe makes approximately 5 cups. It is a good base to start, and then alter the ingredients as you feel inspired to do so.

Nancy's Carmelitas

Other than brownies, I don't have a whole lot of experience in the 'bar cookie' world. We have a lovely lady at work who makes tasty baked goods and occasionally leaves some treats on the break room table. This recipe comes from Nancy, who opened up the world of bar cookies to me - the easiest cookies to make! I can guarantee if you make these, they will have a very short life.

What's in it

1 jar caramel topping

2 C chocolate chips (or butterscotch)

1 C nuts

2 C flour

2 C old fashioned oats

1 1/2 C brown sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 C melted butter

How it's made

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x13" baking pan.

In a large bowl, butter (melted), flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt. Press 1/2 the mixture into the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle with chocolate, nuts and caramel (make sure caramel is soft enough to drizzle - I put my jar in the oven for a couple minutes to soften). Press on remaining mixture and bake 15-20 more minutes or until golden brown. Cut into small bars to serve.