Linguine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Story:

I love it. But I'm the only one in my family that does. Ha!

Found it in Southern Living magazine in 2010.

Ingredients:

1 package linguine (16 oz)

1 jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil (7 oz)

1/4 C pine nuts

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 C extra virgin olive oil

1 package crumbled feta cheese (4 oz)

2 T fresh basil, cut into thin strips

Directions:

Prepare the linguine according to the package directions.

Drain tomatoes, reserving 2 T oil. Cut tomatoes into thin strips.

Heat the pine nuts in a large skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, for 5 minutes (or until toasted and fragrant). Remove nuts from skillet

Increase heat to medium and saute garlic in 2 T of the reserved oil and the additional olive oil. Saute for about a minute or until garlic is fragrant.

Stir in the tomatoes and then remove from heat.

Toss together the tomato mixture, the hot cooked pasta, the feta cheese, and the basil in a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with the toasted pine nuts.

Enjoy! ...even amidst the complaining from the children... It really is good.

Baked Banana Oatmeal

Story:

Admittedly, I can no longer claim to be refined-sugar-free. However, when I was (and I hope to muster up the drive to do so again!), I found this breakfast recipe that I loved. I only made it a couple of times, because, well, it takes a while to cook. And when I come downstairs for breakfast, I'm usually ready to "eat now" not after "bake for 35 minutes" - y'know? I will also add that my kids liked it too. It was kind of like banana bread meets oatmeal...

Ingredients:

3 eggs

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

3 C old-fashioned oats (or quick oats)

1 1/2 C milk

1/2 C raisins

1/3 C honey

1/4 C canola oil

2 t baking powder

2 t cinnamon

1 t vanilla

Directions:

In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs then add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined. Let the mixture set for at least 10 minutes for the oats to absorb some of the liquid.

Stir the mixture again, and then spread into a (well greased) 8x8 baking pan. (MrBreakfast.com says you can use two small loaf pans too; I haven't tried yet.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

To serve, cut into squares. Tada!

Note:

Happened across this one from mrbreakfast.com too!