Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

The impending colder weather this week (and it's arrival yesterday) have put me in the mood for baking.  I'm not sure what it is about the change of seasons (if you can call it that here in Texas) that makes me want to mix up and bake all kinds of yummy things.  Obviously, this can be a huge detriment to my healthier goals right now.  Fortunately, I came across a recipe on Pinterest for baked oatmeal.  It seemed healthy and my hope was that it would be something that I and my girls would enjoy for breakfast.

I tried this original recipe with a substitution  I didn't have any silken tofu (and wasn't in the mood to haul a sick 2 year old to the store for it), so I put in some plain greek yogurt.  I wasn't sure exactly how much a 1/2 a block of tofu would be so I used 3/4 c. yogurt instead.  It worked pretty well.  They came out tasting okay but not fantastic.  I went for less brown sugar, so with the yogurt, it had just a bit of a bitter flavor.  Next time I will use a bit more sugar.

On to my recipe though.  I got to thinking how great these would be in different flavors.  They are easy and inexpensive to make, so my idea was to make batches of different flavors and freeze them.  I decided to honor fall and try my idea for pumpkin baked oatmeal first.  I think they turned out pretty darn good.  I don't normally like to eat breakfast right away, even though the experts say you should.  These are great to have on hand because they taste yummy with my coffee, and at only 122 calories each, I can eat one right away and then have some eggs later in the morning to balance it out.  I haven't tried them out on the kidlets yet, but my suspicions are Eliza will like them and Evie won't. 

So here's the recipe.  Forgive me, I'm not a pro blogger who has beautiful step-by-step pictures.  Here is my attempt at a somewhat attractive picture.  They taste good anyway. 

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Bars

2 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. brown sugar (I ran out on the original batch, and used 1/3 c. agave nectar.  If you use it, put in the blender with wet ingredients.)
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 c. milk
3/4 c. pureed pumpkin
1/2 c. applesauce
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.

In a bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt. In a blender, combine milk, pumpkin, applesauce, and vanilla and blend until smooth.  Pour into the bowl with dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread into a sprayed 8 x 8 baking dish.  If you are baking it right away, cook for 40 minutes.  Otherwise, you can let it sit overnight and bake it for 30 minutes as the oats will have absorbed more of the liquid.  Slice into 9 squares and serve.  Each square has approximately 122 calories.

For the next batch I want to try putting some apples in.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Looking Beyond the Scale

It's what I have to do this week.  The scale is not my friend today.  I'm not sure why.  Despite staying within my calorie limit, and working out, the scale has not budged.  I can sit here and play guessing games as to why.  There are many possible explanations.  But I'd rather attempt to focus on the positive things this week:

1) Someone I've only known for 6 weeks, and who had no idea about my weight loss journey, noticed I lost weight.  That was a huge confidence boost that the effort is worth it.  (It is for so many other reasons as well, but well, it's nice when people notice.)

2) I went to 2 BodyPump classes this week and saw quick results.  By the second class I was able to make it through the second round of squats/lunges, and I wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I was going to be.  Yay for getting stronger!  (Which could also be one of the reasons for the non-budging scale.)

3) I am noticing new muscle definition in my arms and legs.  Muscle definition is sexy.

4) One of the BodyPump leaders saw me after class and offered me a VIP pass to a session this coming week.  Another saw me Saturday and said she missed me in class that day.  It made me feel special, like I have my own little group of cheerleaders.  It may be all in my head.  I don't care. 

5) I feel leaner and stronger.  No number on the scale can beat that.


Even though it would be so easy to take this frustration and dwell on it, let myself roll around in the self-pity and be miserable and depressed, I won't.  I won't give up either.  I will look at these victories this week.  I will look at the fact that I am making myself stronger, fitter and healthier despite what that scale says.  I will hold my head high and walk into next week, prepared to try again.