butterscotch banana bread bites

I usually make muffins or quick bread with my extra bananas but decided to give these bites a try. These will make your house smell like delicious banana bread, have the gooey texture of a soft baked cookie, and are so sweet and delicious you wouldn't even know there isn't added sugar (only that in the butterscotch chips)! My roommate didn't believe me when I told him they weren't "real cookies." Without eggs, added sugar or oil these bites are guilt free and satisfy that sweet craving. They were gone in two days because I couldn't stay away!! I had them for dessert, breakfast, and a snack before my run! I get nervous trying new pre-run foods but these were great.

Makes ~12 bites

What you need:

2 very ripe bananas

1 C oats

1/4 C butterscotch chips

1/3 C shredded unsweetened coconut

1/3 C chopped walnuts

1 tsp ground cinnamon

What you do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a bowl, mash the bananas and combine all other ingredients. 

3. Shape the mixture into round bites and place on a cookie sheet. The recipe should make about 12 bites. I sprayed my cookie sheet with Pam to make sure they didn't stick.

4. Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts:
1 Serving = 1 Bite
Calories 106
Fat 6g
Carbohydrates 13g
Protein 2g
Sugar 6g
Sodium 6mg

If you want to warm them the next day, pop them in the microwave for 12 seconds, perfect!

Baked Cinnamon Pears [with vanilla greek yogurt]

With it being so cold lately, I have been craving a warm sweet treat. Sooo I tried my hand at some baked pears and LOVED THEM. It's healthier than a regular desert and is super easy to make. With some Greek yogurt on top, it's the perfect winter dessert.

Here's what you need:
4 pears
Vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP melted butter

Here's what you do:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Skin, half, and core the pears.
3. In a bowl combine the butter, cinnamon, and vanilla and brush the pears with the mixture on each side.
4. Bake for 30 minutes on each side on a buttered 9 x 13 baking sheet, basting with the pan juices every 15 minutes.

5. Once the pears are done top with a spoonful of Vanilla Greek yogurt and enjoy!!

Banana Dark Chocolate Muffins

Things have changed a lot for me lately. I am no longer living at home with my parents... but instead have moved to Birmingham, am attending Samford University for graduate school (I am getting my Masters in Public Health and doing a Dietetic Internship), and am living with 3 boys. It's weird, I know.

One thing I have learned about living with boys is that they often buy food they have no real intention of eating. Example A: one of my roommates purchased 6 bananas. Bananas go bad quickly. He did not eat a single banana. What happened? I made 3 batches of banana bread and muffins. I think now they're buying bananas just because they know I won't let them go to waste. BUT they were delicious so here I am to share the recipe!!

Here's what you need:
1 stick (8 TBSP) butter
2 very ripe bananas
2 eggs
1.5 C flour
1 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
0.5-1 C dark chocolate chips (I just eye-balled it because I love chocolate and oftentimes go overboard)

Here's what you do:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream the butter and sugar.
3. Beat the eggs and combine with the butter/sugar mix.
4. Mash the bananas and add to the mixture.
5. Mix in flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and baking soda.
6. Pour into muffin pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

I also made this into bread. I combined the ingredients exactly the same but baked the bread for about 45-60 minutes. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't burn!