I'm putting that disclosure up there because someone keeps sending me books and I'm not sure who they are from. I've got about 10 how-to books (all very lovely) sitting here that I don't know what to do with. Unless we've mutually agreed upon a feature, I don't just willy nilly write up reviews because someone chooses to send unsolicited material. So, to the company doing it, please stop sending out random books and contact me first. I'm very picky about what I choose to feature here and you could save us both time and hassle with a simple email inquiry.
With that said, out of all the books that have been anonymously gifted, one stood out because it was a cookbook, which you all know that I have a weakness for. Mom's Sugar Solution: 150 Low-Sugar Recipes for Your Kids' Favorite Foods, Sweet Treats, and More! arrived at my door about a month ago and I have been kind of in awe of the book since first cracking it open. While I normally wouldn't showcase an unsolicited product here, I really do love this cookbook and thought you all would love it too, so I'm going against what I normally do and am sharing it with you all today.
While I'm not opposed to treating my family to a sugary snack once in a while, I do believe that we should cut down on the refined sugar when possible. So, I sat down and flipped through this cookbook cover to cover in hopes of finding a few tasty recipes that weren't loaded with sugar so I could cheat on the sweets that my family tends to love.
The beginning of the book is a great resource, offering up tips on how to transition your family into a low-sugar diet. It then goes on to offer up 150 recipes starting with breakfast and going all the way through dessert after dinner. At the tail end of the book, there's even a guide for simple meal plans, so if you're looking to cut down on the sugar intake, this handy chart will keep you on track.
I liked the glossy pages, pretty photography, and easy to follow recipes. I've been wanting to try several of the recipes in this book this month, but time has been very limited, so I have only had the chance to test one, and that is the Banana Walnut Baked Oatmeal.
Imagine a warm banana bread right out of the oven. It smells great and tastes even better. Yeah, that's what this oatmeal reminds me of. Fresh baked banana bread but in oatmeal form. Irresistible, right? I made this for a weekend breakfast and it was devoured in no time, so I'm going to say that the first recipe we've tried from the cookbook was a raging success.
Yield: Serves 6
Banana Walnut Baked Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS:
- Cooking Spray
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup chopped walnuts, divided
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 medium ripe bananas, cut into ½ inch pieces
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8" baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, ¼ cup of the walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until well-mixed.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together syrup, milk, egg, butter, vanilla, and flaxseed.
- Place bananas in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, then evenly sprinkle in the oat mixture.
- Slowly and evenly drizzle milk mixture on top of oats. If any milk is pooling on top of oats, use a wooden spoon to gently tap it down through the oats without disturbing the banana layer.
- Sprinkle remaining walnuts on top.
- Bake 35-45 minutes until mostly firm with just a little jiggle in the center. Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes before serving.
Be sure to grab a copy of Mom's Sugar Solution to grab all 150 low-sugar recipes. You can find the cookbook on Amazon and through most major book retailers.
What's your favorite fruit to bake into oatmeal?
